Join the National Library of Australia for a very special author read-aloud. Hon. Frederica Lupe‘uluiva Fatafehi Lapaha Tuita will read her beautiful book Dancing Shadows, published by Twinnies Publishing.
The story will inspire us to discuss how we express ourselves and how we pass on learning from our cultures. Who do we learn from? What important stories do we share?
The content in this learning session is suitable for students in Year 3 to Year 6 and links with the Australian Curriculum V9 for English and the Creative Arts, Year 6 HASS: Geography as well as supporting the Cross-Curriculum Priority ‘Asia and Australia’s engagement with Asia’ (Asia-Pacific).
Entry is free but registrations are essential. Please register via the National Library of Australia website.
A recording will be made available after the session. Register via the booking link to receive a link to the recording.
About Dancing Shadows
A Royal Short Story. Inspired by the legacy of Her Late Majesty Queen Sālote and her granddaughter, HRH The Princess Royal, Princess Sālote Mafile‘o Pilolevu Tuita, this story follows a curious young princess discovering how her grandmother creates poems and songs. It’s a tale celebrating the unique bond between grandparents and grandchildren, and the beautiful power of self-expression through the arts.
About Hon. Frederica Lupe’uluiva Fatafehi Lapaha Tuita
Hon. Frederica Lupe’uluiva Fatafehi Lapaha Tuita is a Tongan royal, author, and public advocate. She is the daughter of the King of Tonga’s only sister, Princess Royal Salote Mafile’o Pilolevu Tuita.
Literary Career
As an author, she seeks to share Tonga’s history through fiction and children’s literature. In 2021, she released Dancing Shadows, published by Twinnies Publishing, a short story inspired by treasured moments between her mother and her great-grandmother, Queen Salote Tupou III. The story draws on memories shared by her mother of watching her grandmother’s hands and shadows as she danced, planning movements for songs her grandmother composed.
In 2023, she released Rise to Power, a fictionalised short story inspired by the early life of her great-great-great grandfather, King Tupou I, the founding father of modern Tonga. The launch date of 4 December holds significance as it marks both the birth date and the commemoration of the beginning of King Tupou I’s reign. She has also written a children’s Tongan Kupesi Colouring Book, further contributing to the preservation and sharing of Tongan cultural heritage with younger generations. She continues to use her platform to encourage young Tongans and emphasise the importance of unity and resilience.
The National Library of Australia recognises the generous contribution of the Opalgate Foundation for the Library’s Lifelong Learning initiative.
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