Guam – The University of Guam press is holding a book launch and signing at the UOG RFK library on Saturday at 10am for a new local children’s book titled “Un Ha’ani Yan Si Ena”.
The book’s author Simone Bollinger says the UOG Press has a book line called Taiguini Books which is pushing to promote and perpetuate children’s books in the Chamoru language.
Bollinger says “Un Ha’ani Yan Si Ena” is her second book based on her daughter which features simple phrases and everyday words in Chamoru that parents can use with their children. Bollinger says the book makes for a perfect bedtime story and it’s educational.
“Students really respond to local literature in ways that they don’t always respond to literature from the states or from other places. And again, it just sort of gives them that idea that ‘this is happening’ ‘this can be done’ and ‘I wanna do this’ and ‘we do have good writers on Guam.’ So, it’s about letting them know that you can write on Guam and you can publish and you can get books out there,” said Bollinger.
The new Chamoru children’s book will also be on sale at the book launch on Saturday, at most local bookstores and online at www.uog.edu/uog-press.
