A little girl crawls onto her mother’s lap to listen to the ipu “thump tap thump-a-tap” and watch the hula dancers sway in this perfectly pitched tropical lullaby that captures the sounds, sights and scents of an island night. A fire glows. Ocean waves crash against the shore. The moon rises into a starry sky. Birds rustle, palms sway and flowers perfume the air. The repetitive, rhythmic text echoes the cadence of traditional hula drums and chants, inviting little keike everywhere to nestle, snuggle, sleep and dream in the “Aloha way.” Reminiscent of Gauguin’s primitive patterns and native images, the acrylic-and-pencil illustrations in lush midnight blues, moon yellows, flower reds and leaf greens, enhance the Hawaiian atmosphere. Guaranteed to gently rock tiny tots to sleep. (author’s note) (Picture book. Infant-3)
