This basic look at Samoa, in a series that allows us to tour the Pacific Island nations, can seem a bit too worthy, stodgy, and to my mind too old-school, thump-you-over-the-head-with-a-chalk-board-eraser kind of geography teacher. But it is not absolutely dreadful – it will educate, even if in ways I'd still question and over subjects I'd still doubt the need for. This might have been towards the lower of the star ratings, had I not seen others in the series, and realised that these are all written by natives, and from the viewpoint of what they would wish you to learn. So fair's fair – even if this goes off-curriculum, it can't be too bad to be taught about the islands from an Islander.

I absolutely love Sāmoa by Jane Va'afusuaga! Sāmoa is geared toward young kids and gives them a brief overview of this beautiful place and it's culture. My dad loves the Pacific Islands, especially, Sāmoa, and when I saw this book on NetGalley, I HAD to read it. I love the facts that are in the book and the new things I learned. I highly recommend Sāmoa by Jane Va'afusuaga and believe it's a great resource to all who read it. Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read this book. My review is also on Goodreads.

This book is one of a series of books about the Pacific Islands. It is written at a level perfect for upper elementary and middle school children. The book is divided into chapters on The History of Samoa, Samoan Culture, Samoa Today, and A Blend of the Old and the New. At the end of the book is a glossary of Samoan words and an English glossary. There is also an index and a selection of additional resources for learning more about Samoa.

I liked the variety of material covered in this book. The chapter on history included the mythological beginning stories that were passed down as well as facts about countries that came to settle there and battles fought. There are tips on how to pronounce letters in Samoan, descriptions of religious and cultural celebrations, and so much more. Each page includes photographs with captions.

Thank you to #NetGalley and #NorwoodHousePress for an eARC of Samoa

Very informative and enchanting look at life in Samoa by Jane V’afusuaga.
For thirty years I’ve heard of the magic of the islands of Samoa. My late mother-in-law was a native of American Samoa and my daughter grew up having lavalavas wrapped around her. Even having that personal touch, I still learned so much more than I ever thought I knew.
Beautiful images, geographic details, cultural background, historical information, pronunciation guides, and current events are all explored in this series.
This would make a great addition to any elementary/middle school library or classroom.
Thank you to NetGalley and Norwood Press for my early review copy!

A very informative book about Samoa for elementary aged children. Great content and photographs. I really like how there was a small chart about some famous people who are Samoan so children can understand that there are people they may know of from Samoa. A great non-fiction resource for children learning about Samoa!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Norwood Press for my copy of Sāmoa by Jane Va'afusuaga in exchange for an honest review. It published August 15, 2022.
This book, and the related series is wonderful! As an adult, I felt like I was learning quite a lot, from origin stories, geographical location, culture, customs, foods, and more, this is an excellent resource for children and adults alike!
This would make an excellent addition to any library or classroom!