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A Manulele in a Mango Tree

Le Manulele o nofo i le Mago
By Sarona Aiono-Iosefa
Series: Moana Oceania Series
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Brief Description
A partridge in a pear tree is something you won't see at Christmas in New Zealand, let alone the South Pacific. But a colourful bird in a mango tree - that's more like it. A Manulele in a Mango Tree brings the '12 Days of Christmas'... Read More
Format: Paperback / softback
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- 'The 12 Days of Christmas' with a Pacific theme - Classic read along book with bright, bold illustrations - Written in English with Samoan translation -

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

A partridge in a pear tree is something you won't see at Christmas in New Zealand, let alone the South Pacific. But a colourful bird in a mango tree - that's more like it.

A Manulele in a Mango Tree brings the '12 Days of Christmas' to the South Pacific with gifts including frangipani, corned beef, drummers and fire dancers.

Strikingly illustrated with woodblock prints, this bilingual book gives a summery setting to Christmas while celebrating many aspects of Pacific culture, from weaving to drumming to dance.

In the vein of the classic A Pukeko in a Ponga Tree, this picture book will make a great gift or a fun read around the Christmas tree.

Series: Moana Oceania Series

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  • A Manulele in a Mango Tree
    A Manulele in a Mango Tree
    A partridge in a pear tree is something you won't see at Christmas in New Zealand, let alone the South Pacific. But a colourful bird in a mango tree - that's more like it. A Manulele in a Mango Tree brings the '12 Days of Christmas' to the South Pacific with gifts including frangipani, corned beef, drummers and fire dancers....
    By Sarona Aiono-Iosefa
    Paperback
    Sold Out

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781990042928

Publisher: Oratia Media

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 05 November 2025

Country: New Zealand

Imprint: Oratia Books

Edition: New edition

Illustration: Colour illustrations throughout

Contributors:

  • Illustrated by Steven Dunn
  • Translated by Le'autuli Sauvao

Audience: Children

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 4.0mm

Width: 215.0mm

Height: 230.0mm

Weight: 250g

Pages: 32

Collections

Children's Books Children's Early Years Children's Picture Books Children’s, Teenage and Educational New Zealand and Australia Published New Zealand Children's Books New Zealand Published Sarona Aiono-Iosefa Series: Moana Oceania Series

About the Author

Sarona Aiono-Iosefa is a Samoan-New Zealander who writes books for children. Born in Christchurch, New Zealand to parents who had emigrated from Samoa, she studied journalism at Wellington Polytechnic then transferred to the University of Canterbury to study English literature, graduating in 1984.
Aiono-Iosefa's writing reflects her experiences growing up as a Pacific Islander in Christchurch. She has written several books for children which have been published in English and six different Pacific languages. In 2007, she was the Fulbright-Creative New Zealand Pacific Writer in Residence at the University of Hawai'i at Manoa.

Steven Dunn is an artist and illustrator. He lives in Christchurch, where he works as a graphic designer.

Le'autuli Sauvao is an educator and noted translator of Gagana Samoa (the Samoan language). She lives in Wellington.

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