Author(s): Salvin Kumar (Illustrator)

Picture Books | Fijian Baat

Fiji-Baat is the story of an 8-year-old boy who lives in Sydney, Australia. His parents are of different ethnicities. His Mum is Indian-Fijian, and Dad is Scottish. His narration is of the year before when he and his mother visit his Nana (maternal grandfather) in Fiji, who he has never had a real conversation with. The young-boy arrives in Fiji thinking that his Nana can barely speak English but is surprised to learn the opposite. Nana comes and sits next to him when he is using his iPad. He asks what his 8-year-old grandson is doing. Once he understands, he mentions that their computer isn't working and that he used to send emails to his friends who live overseas. Nana is then shown how to send emails from an iPad. They talk about their ancestry and Nana starts teaching his grandson some words in Fiji-Hindustani (also known as Fiji-Baat). The young boy leaves his iPad with his grandfather. Upon his return to Sydney, he sees an email from Nana who continues to teach him Fiji-Baat with the iPad. The story ends with the young boy saying that he and his Nana now talk weekly, suggesting that they are better connected and that he is learning more about his identity.