Koko and the Coconut

Baran Rostamian: Koko and the Coconut is the first picture book by author and humanitarian Turia Pitt, written in collaboration with her mum Celestine Vaite. While the story is simplea crab sheds its shell and cracks a coconuteach page is decorated with vibrant landscapes and depictions of independent problem-solving and agency by illustrator Emilie Tavaearii. The creators Polynesian Islander backgrounds inform the adorable artwork, brightening when Koko succeeds. The book is a great example of both positive self-talk and the encouragement of others, as readers hear Kokos internal dialogue, and Go, Koko! repeated throughout. With engaging repetition and opportunities for performance, such as through adopting various voices and involving listeners, Koko and the Coconut is suitable to read aloud to children up to the age of five. The storys symbolic simplicity sets it up to be relatable, apart from the slightly jarring and unnecessary gendering of the crab’Im a big boy coconut crab now. Otherwise, the positive self-talk messages in first person allow an absence of pronouns, and the illustrations of Koko are gender-neutral. An athlete, motivational speaker and mother, Pitts own story is the epitome of never giving up, and so its only natural that the resilience and determination she is known for are championed in Koko and the Coconut. Baran Rostamian is an emerging writer living in Boorloo and has most recently been published in the anthology Under the Paving Stones, the Beach. Books+Publishing is Australias number-one source of pre-publication book reviews.

Turia Pitt (Author)

Turia Pitt is living proof that, with the right mindset, anything is possible. Caught in a grassfire while competing in a 100 km ultramarathon in 2011, Turia suffered full thickness burns to 65 per cent of her body. But surviving is the least of her achievements. One of Australia’s most admired and widely recognised people, Turia has gone on to become a bestselling author, a two-time Ironman and a humanitarian - raising well over a million dollars for not-for-profit Interplast. Through her online presence, books and online programs, Turia has inspired millions to live with more confidence, conquer their fears and chase down their wildest dreams.

Emilie Tavaearii (Illustrator)

Emilie was born in Tahiti in 1985. She left French Polynesia at the age of seven and settled in France with her mother and brother on the beautiful island of Noirmoutier. She developed a passion for creativity at an early age, and later majored in Art History. After graduation, she started a photography career. In 2018, Emilie felt the urge to reconnect with her Polynesian roots and returned to Tahiti, which prompted her to change her life and to pursue her childhood dream of becoming an illustrator. Emilie now lives in Nantes in France and travels regularly to Polynesia where she has renewed strong ties.

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