New Zealand teachers will be familiar with the Pacific Island nation stories written by Jill MacGregor in the New Zealand School Journals. Her photographs capture children using environmental resources to maintain their traditions. This new series of books will encourage an understanding of children's daily life in Tonga, Samoa, Kiribati and the Cook Islands. The 'Children of the Pacific' series supports the Social Sciences and Technology learning areas within the New Zealand curriculum (Ministry of Education) Levels 1-3.

Jill lives on the Kapiti Coast where she was a school teacher for many years. She spent two years as a VSA teacher in Tonga in the 1990's. Since then Jill has travelled throughout the Pacific experiencing village life and joining in the numerous cultural happenings. The many School Journal stories she has written about children in the Pacific evolved from these experiences. This series reflects her belief that it is important to document cultural practices in a time of change.