Tasi & Matina
The Story of the First Clown Fish
by
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Long ago, there was a small island in the middle of the great big ocean. The beautiful island was covered with green trees and sweet smelling flowers. The sun was always shining and it kept the island warm.
The bright sun warmed the sea, which was a sparkling blue. The island's waters were filled with colorful coral reefs. This is where many of the ocean's animals made their home. There were big fish, little fish, turtles, and dolphins. The animals of the reef were happy. They loved their wonderful world beneath the waves.
On the island, there lived a young girl named Matina. She had four older sisters. Matina and her sisters worked hard tending their family's farm and growing taro for all the people on the island. Matina and her sisters looked after one another and loved each other very much.
Everyday, when their work was done, Matina and her sisters played in the island's thick jungles and sparkling waters. They had many adventures. They ran through groves of coconut trees and splashed in the cool pools beneath the water falls.
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About the Book
On a warm, tropical island there lived a girl named Matina. Matina and her sisters played throughout the island and in the sparkling blue sea that surrounded it. Matina and her sisters were full of love and happiness. They shared their love and friendship with all of the animals of the sea who lived in its vibrant and colorful coral reefs. Tasi was a lonely fish who lived in the ocean reef. This is the story of the great friendship between Tasi and Matina. Their love for each other changed them forever, along with all of the animals of the sea who knew them. It is a story of the power of unconditional love and the unbreakable bond of family. This is the tale of how a tiny fish named Tasi got his white stripes and became the first clown fish. The story of Tasi & Matina is based on characters and images of indigenous Pacific Island origin.
About the Author
The creators of Tasi & Matina are a daughter and mother team from the island of Guam. Embracing their Chamorro heritage, the creators of Tasi & Matina brought to life the cultural values of the indigenous people of Guam and the Mariana Islands through their story, the characters, and the images of their island home. By extending the long-practiced oral traditions of the Chamorro people, the creators of Tasi & Matina hope to provide the children of Guam, the Mariana Islands, and the world with a sense of pride and belonging to their island heritage. The author, Alison Taimanglo Cuasay, lives in southern California with her husband. Alison is an Army Veteran and is currently completing her education and training to work as a registered nurse. The illustrator, Patricia L.G. Taimanglo, lives on Guam where she provides services to the People of Guam as a clinical psychologist. Together, they strive to share their love of the land and sea as was passed on to them through their ancestors of Guam and the Mariana Islands.