Aloha Everything

Starred review from February 15, 2024
A Hawaiian girl learns the true meaning of the word aloha. A baby girl is born on an island in the moonlight; she and the island share a heartbeat. As she grows up, she learns to be swift like the honu (turtle) and smart like the heʻe (octopus), but the island knows that there's more for her to learn. Through the hula, a traditional Hawaiian storytelling dance, she discovers how the islands were formed. She learns about her ancestors, who traveled to these islands in mighty canoes by navigating with the stars, and about her people's folklore, filled with heroes, adventures, and love. Finally, Laka, the goddess of hula, descends and says, "Tell the ka'ao with pride / On these islands we live / with our lore by our side." The child has learned to take pride in who she is and what the word aloha means--"to give love, compassion, and honor to everyone and everything around you." Mesmerizing, metered verse combines English and Hawaiian words for a rich tale of Hawaiian history, culture, ecology, and legends. Showing a deft use of light and shadow, the vibrant images bring the text to life, with a few wordless spreads throughout. A glossary and pronunciation guide are included, with cultural context provided for the various words. A stunning tribute to Hawaiian culture and identity. (Picture book. 4-8)

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March 18, 2024
Lush illustrations by Waite and rhythmic quatrains from Melia George paint the story of a Hawaiian girl who learns about her cultural heritage through via hula. A baby, born “where the ocean spray’s kiss meets the sky’s close embrace” grows into a child. To teach her the history of her people, adults “breathed life to the tales/ with each step and each song,/ generations of lore/ that the hula kept strong.” A repeating refrain—“What did hula teach her?”—forms a through line that introduces spreads about the islands’ formation, the girl’s voyaging ancestors, and “great tales of old,/ kept as records preserved/ to be lovingly told.” Combining intricate images of the natural world, people portrayed with various skin tones, and lore, acrylic and gouache paintings linger in the eye in this gossamer work that concludes with a question: “What did hula teach you?” A pronunciation guide and glossary conclude. Ages 5–8.