Lagi Spies

I was pleasantly surprised when I picked up ‘Lagi Spies’ to read, it is only a small book, but it delivers so much! We join Lagi as she plays a game of ‘I spy’ with her friends, along the way we learn about the colours in Gagana Samoan. Most of the text is in simple English making it accessible to all readers, yet at the same time exposing readers to a potentially new language. All the written colours in Gagana Samoan are represented in the same colour text, helping readers’ awareness of the colours they are learning.

The bright and bold illustrations by Darcy Solia are fun and full of action as Lagi and her friends find different colours in a playground. I was not surprised to learn that Darcy is a primary school visual arts teacher, as the illustrations capture the essence of youth.

There is a handy pronunciation guide and glossary at the back of the book, including help for pronouncing consonants, short and long vowel sounds, this is a fabulous resource for readers and teachers.

‘Lagi Spies’ is part of the ‘My Gaganga Series’ and I will be looking out for the other titles to add to our Pacifika Collection.

Title: Lagi Spies

Author: Dahlia Malaeulu

Illustrator: Darcy Solia

Publisher: Little Island Press

ISBN: 978-11-877484-03-2

RRP: $18

Format: Paperback

Date of publication: 2019

Ages: 5+

Reviewer: Louana McCormack, Librarian, Opaheke School, Auckland

How highly are you recommending this book? Highly recommended

What’s the book’s opening sentence? Lagi spies with her little eye, something lanu moana and lanu pa’epa’e.....

You can buy this book here

Dahlia Malaeulu is available to visit schools through the Writers in Schools programme