A Manulele in a Mango Tree - Le Manulele o nofo i le Mago - Book Review

A Manulele in a Mango Tree – Le Manulele o nofo i le Mago

This bilingual picture book (English/ Gagana Samoan) is a South Pacific version of the Christmas classic – The Twelve Days of Christmas. A Manulele in a Mango Tree Book Review Cover

We all know the first line…

“On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me

a Partridge in a Pear tree.”

Sure, we can find a pear tree in Aotearoa New Zealand, but a Partridge? Not likely for most.

A Manulele in a Mango Tree – Le Manulele o nofo i le Mago changes the English traditional version with its partridges, maids a milking, and lords a leaping, to jandals, tapa cloth, corned beef, mothers weaving, and chiefs a chatting.

Vibrantly coloured woodblock prints add even more joy to this Christmas song, making it even more relatable to down under singers.

A joyful addition to Christmas bookshelf collections.

Author – Sarona Aiona-losefa

Illustrator – Steven Dunn

Translator: Le’autuli Sauvao

Picture Book

(2025, Oratia Publishers, Aotearoa New Zealand, NZ, Sth Pacific, South Pacific, Pacifica, Classic song, Christmas, 12 Days of Christmas, Twelve Days of Christmas)

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