Chamorro  (2023)

The Little Prince translated into the CHamoru language by Påle' Eric Forbes, the former Capuchin Superior for Guam and Hawaii.

Forbes presented copies of the book to the Guam Department of Education during a press conference Thursday 18 January 2024. Matsuki Hirayama (Kuam news) and Jerick Sablan (Pacific Daily News) reported about this event.

Forbes worked on the translation for four years during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown. It wasn’t an easy feat translating the short novel. Forbes shared there were times he was scratching his head for days trying to find the right words to describe words like “asteroid” or “decorum.” “There were some unfamiliar terms in the CHamoru language I did translate because I found it interesting to do that,” he explained. “For example, 'lamplighter'… was easy to do. But 'railway switchman?' You’re going to have ten CHamoru words to describe that one thing.”

Forbes hopes to relay the message of the book to readers of all ages, that “even if you’re a grown up, have the heart of a child.” “The essential things in life are not visible. They are seen with the heart and that’s what children do. And how much we need that in our world today,” he said.

About 1,600 free copies will be sent to all 41 public schools. Charter and private schools may also receive copies. “The idea that I’m coming from, and that the Board supports, is everything we can do to support the CHamoru language and culture in our community is really important,” GDOE Superintendent Dr. Kenneth Swanson said. “I come from a background where I did other work with indigenous populations in the mainland. I see the complex relationship to language and culture. We can’t have them in separate environments.”

The book was published by Glimpses Media and made possible through a grant from the Jean-Marc Probst Foundation in Switzerland.