Book reviews:

Plenty Saimin is the story of a little boy named Ah Kee whose mother is going to the market for flour to make noodles for his birthday. Eating long noodles on your birthday is what you do to wish for long life (it’s something Alex’s family and I also practice). On the way to the market Ah Kee invites many friends to join in the celebration and his mother worries that they will not have enough noodles for everyone. But everyone brings a little something to the party, a different ingredient that they could all spare and soon there’s more than enough noodles, now made into saimin, to go around.

This book, similar to the old ‘stone soup’ folktale, is completely heart warming. It is one of the best examples of “local” Hawaii living I have seen in a keiki book. Ah Kee doesn’t think twice in inviting his friends and neighbors over to celebrate—the more the merrier. Japanese, Hawaiian, Portuguese and Korean, everyone come eat noodles! In Hawaii there’s always more than enough food at a party as people usually bring something even when you tell them NOT to. Indeed, I cannot go to a party empty handed at all, it just feels strange. So you end up with a hodge-podge of all kinds of ono stuff— enough so that people can even take home leftovers.

I loved the honesty of this story, it’s very humble. Not only is it inspired by the author’s own practice of making long noodles in her family but it’s reflective of how we gather and share food here. Especially given that saimin was actually created in this way on plantations in Hawaii. Indeed many of our local favorite foods are combinations of flavors and cultures. The color-pencil illustrations by Nanakuli born artist Adriano Abatayo, are very detailed. He elegantly and respectfully captures island living in his backgrounds, character facial features, clothes and buildings. There is a simplicity about his style that adds a sense of ease to the story. The pictures are bright and engaging, and the food/ingredients look realistic, which is important since it’s a story about food! Plenty Saimin is highly recommended for sharing with your keiki and sending to relatives as gifts.

Charming children's story of sharing and celebration I just read this book to my 6 year old son, who enjoyed the illustrations and asked lots of questions about saimin and how the boy wanted it for his birthday. The story is charmingly told from the boy's point of view-- and also shows the valuable lesson of friends and community sharing resources with one another. You don't have to live in Hawaii to enjoy this book. We live in Texas and the book's point of view, storyline, and lesson translates well for the 4-8 year old age group. It also comes with a recipe! Worth adding to your child's home library.

Mahalo nui!
Kerry

Joe Tabler— www.surfbooks.com

Surf's Up For Kimo by Kerry Germain & Kimo's Summer Vacation by Kerry Germain

I thoroughly enjoyed Kerry Germain's two Kimo children's books. I liked the stories for their realism and direct treatment of young Kimo's concerns.

Surf's Up for Kimo came out in 2001 and won the Excellence in Children's books from the Hawaii Book Publishers Association. Kimo REALLY wants to surf, but he isn't quite ready. His brother and mother guide him. He needs to learn to be a strong swimmer and then has to watch the waves to learn how they break. He does these things and finally gets to surf.....it is worth the effort!

There is a great joy in these pages and a thrill of discovery. Adorning the pages are strong, colorful illustrations (by Keoni Montes) of Hawaiian life and culture -- the leaves of trees and plants are pictured along the bottoms of the story's pages - and in a wonderful glossary at the back are the names and uses of each leaf!

In Kimo's Summer Vacation, Kimo's boredom at the end of school is soon over, as he finds an abundance of things to do... from beach combing for shells to canoeing and surfing. Once again the borders are wonderfully illustrated with Hawaiian culture in the shape of surfboards, outriggers, fish, and shells, whose descriptions and uses are in the glossary once more - nicely illustrated again, of course. (I'm getting an education I hadn't expected!)

These books are pictorial hardcovers that feel good in one's hands with bold depictions and colors. Women are represented well in the Kimo books, too. His mother surfs and one of his friends, a girl, Keala, aids in his discoveries of Hawaii in the summer time. She surf's, too!

Kerry's son Jack inspired the stories. Her site http://www.surfsupforkimo.com/ has a shot of 6 year old Jack surfing. And ordering information. (Plus some cool surf music -- guess by whom?)

Aloha,

joe t.

Jolie Jean Cotton—Honolulu Advertiser

Kimo's Surfing Lesson

Illustrator Nicolette Moore brings a fresh perspective to the latest local picture book series about a young surfer Kimo. Author Kerry Germain’s third book on keiki wave riders is her best yet. Now that Kimo has learned to surf it’s his turn to become the teacher, when his cousin Katie arrives from the mainland. There’s just enough angst between the athletic Kimo and what he assumes is his “girly-girl” cousin, to keep the story flowing smoothly.

Moore’s bright, colorful art is well suited to the book’s young audience.

Thoughtfully designed page layouts pull single items from each main illustration to create artwork borders. A pronunciation guide and a section dedicated to details about pictures in the borders makes for a well-rounded book.