A kindhearted, instructive tale with a Hawaiian twist.
Ebalaroza-Tunnell introduces the universal spirit of Hawaiian Aloha and its cultural and practical significance.
The narrator, Dr. G, whom we meet in a classroom, says: “Aloha is a powerful word that comes from the islands of Hawaii and has many beautiful meanings.” Dr. G has tan skin, dark brown hair, and kind eyes, and she wears a pretty yellow dress. Although “Aloha” means both “hello” and “goodbye,” it can also mean ”love,” she explains to the class. She provides a fun way of remembering the spirit of ALOHA: The letter A is for “ask,” so we can learn new ways of doing things. L is for “listen,” to really hear what others have to share. O is for “observe,” particularly the physical manifestations of our feelings. H is for “heart,” and the final A is for “adapt,” so we can change our attitudes and behaviors to grow and thrive. For each letter, Dr. G offers activities children can do, including journaling and breathing exercises. The text uses simple vocabulary and short sentences to describe relatively complex ideas, and Fadhilah’s cartoonlike illustrations of children of different races and ethnicities practicing the activities set a serene, inclusive scene.
A kindhearted, instructive tale with a Hawaiian twist. (Ages: 4-6, picture book)Pub Date: Feb. 22, 2024
ISBN: 9798989787005
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Plowline Publishing
Review Posted Online: April 1, 2024
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
A well-meaning but lackluster tribute.
Readers bid farewell to a beloved canine character.
Momo is—or was—an adorable and very photogenic border collie owned by author Knapp. The many readers who loved him in the previous half-dozen books are in for a shock with this one. “Momo had died” is the stark reality—and there are no photographs of him here. Instead, Momo has been replaced by a flat cartoonish pastiche with strange, staring round white eyes, inserted into some of Knapp’s photography (which remains appealing, insofar as it can be discerned under the mixed media). Previous books contained few or no words. Unfortunately, virtuosity behind a lens does not guarantee mastery of verse. The art here is accompanied by words that sometimes rhyme but never find a workable or predictable rhythm (“We’d fetch and we’d catch, / we’d run and we’d jump. Every day we found new / games to play”). It’s a pity, because the subject—a pet’s death—is an important one to address with children. Of course, Momo isn’t gone; he can still be found “everywhere” in memories. But alas, he can be found here only in the crude depictions of the darling dog so well known from the earlier books.
A well-meaning but lackluster tribute. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: Feb. 6, 2024
ISBN: 9781683693864
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Quirk Books
Review Posted Online: Nov. 4, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2023
BOOK REVIEW
A solid addition to Rotner’s seasonal series. Bring on summer.
Rotner follows up her celebrations of spring and autumn with this look at all things winter.
Beginning with the signs that winter is coming—bare trees, shorter days, colder temperatures—Rotner eases readers into the season. People light fires and sing songs on the solstice, trees and plants stop growing, and shadows grow long. Ice starts to form on bodies of water and windows. When the snow flies, the fun begins—bundle up and then build forts, make snowballs and snowmen (with eyebrows!), sled, ski (nordic is pictured), skate, snowshoe, snowboard, drink hot chocolate. Animals adapt to the cold as well. “Birds grow more feathers” (there’s nothing about fluffing and air insulation) and mammals, more hair. They have to search for food, and Rotner discusses how many make or find shelter, slow down, hibernate, or go underground or underwater to stay warm. One page talks about celebrating holidays with lights and decorations. The photos show a lit menorah, an outdoor deciduous tree covered in huge Christmas bulbs, a girl next to a Chinese dragon head, a boy with lit luminarias, and some fireworks. The final spread shows signs of the season’s shift to spring. Rotner’s photos, as always, are a big draw. The children are a marvelous mix of cultures and races, and all show their clear delight with winter.
A solid addition to Rotner’s seasonal series. Bring on summer. (Informational picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: Oct. 16, 2018
ISBN: 978-0-8234-3976-8
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Holiday House
Review Posted Online: Aug. 13, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2018
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