Published by Neal Porter Books

Summary:  In a “This is the house that Jack built” cumulative style, the author recounts the steps necessary to get the poi for the family’s (‘ohana’s) lu’au.  The poi comes from the kalo plant, which is the starting point for the verse.  From there, the narrative moves outward to the mud that the plant grows in, the “land that has never been sold”, the stream that waters it, the sun, and the wind.  The final lines include the ‘ohana that gives thanks for all of the elements that have created the food for their lu’au.  Includes notes about kalo, poi, and ‘ohana as well as a glossary.  40 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  A fascinating introduction to native Hawaiian culture.  The illustrations are spectacular and will make you want to be on the beach eating poi with this ‘ohana.  The back matter helps readers understand what is going on in the story.

Cons:  Since I’m sure many readers have as little knowledge of Hawaiian culture as I do, it would have been helpful to have some explanation on each page of what was going on, rather than having it all at the end.

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Published by Lee and Low Books (Released May 5)

Summary:  Two girls from a Lenni Lenape tribe, Traditional Sister and Contemporary Sister describe their lives with their families through the course of one year.  Each illustration has the name of a moon, with the Lenape name on the left and the English name on the right.  The Traditional Sister and her family are portrayed on the left of each illustration and the Contemporary family on the right, showing them as they move through the seasons, growing and harvesting crops.  The last few pages give additional information on the history of the Lenni Lenape people, who lived in what is now the Mid-Atlantic states, as well as some of the cultural features portrayed in the book.  32 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  This beautifully illustrated book portrays the Lenni Lenape culture as vibrant and living, tying the past to the present.  Readers will be able to connect with many of the activities the Contemporary Sister describes, while learning more about the Lenape history and culture.

Cons:  The format of the two families being portrayed side by side may be a little confusing to younger kids.

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Published by Annick Press

Summary:  Salma and her mother are living in Vancouver’s Welcome Center waiting for Papa to join them from Syria.  When her mother returns from her long days of job hunting and English classes, Salma notices she no longer laughs.  Salma tries making her mom funny pictures and telling jokes, but all she gets is a sad smile, “full of love but empty of joy”.  Finally Salma has an idea–she’ll make foul shami, one of her mother’s favorite Syrian dishes. She gets plenty of help from others living at the Welcome Center, but things don’t turn out the way Salma’s hoping.  There’s no sumac in the spice rack, and she accidentally breaks the bottle of olive oil. But even with its imperfections, the foul shami works its magic, and Mama laughs! Not only that, but Salma’s new friends save the day, and she begins to find beauty and joy in her new home.  40 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  This child’s-eye view of what it’s like to move to a new country acknowledges the difficulties while maintaining hope and optimism.  The colorful illustrations perfectly accentuate the story, bringing the people from so many different places to life.

Cons:  There was no recipe for the foul shami that was so central to the story.

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Published by Disney Hyperion

Thanks to Disney Hyperion for providing me with a copy of this book to review.

Summary:  Sophia decides to run away, taking her cat with her.  Clearly, there has been some sort of incident involving a time-out, and Sophia has decided she’d prefer to live by herself on the moon.  She writes her mom a letter to let her know. Her mom responds calmly, saying that she misses Sophia, but will be hosting Grorg, a young alien who has run away from the man on the moon.  As Mom describes the dinner and bedtime routine she is planning for Grorg, Sophia starts to have second thoughts. She suggests that Grog might be homesick, and that maybe Mom could bring him back to the moon.  After a reunion and a hug, Mom writes one last letter: “Even when you’re mad, I love you to the moon. And I love you all the way back.” 32 pages; ages 3-6.

Pros:  An excellent choice for showing unconditional love between a parent and child.  The letter format is a fun way to keep things light, and the cute illustrations help readers understand what’s really going on.

Cons:  I’m kind of done with the whole “I love you to the moon and back” thing.

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Published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Thanks to Little, Brown Books for providing me with a copy of this book to review

Summary:  “Life happens when you least expect it.”  With this message, a girl gets a mysterious box dropped off on her front doorstep.  When she opens it, out pops a weird gray creature…Life! Life can be weird (look at these last few weeks), It can also be messy, stinky, and crazy. You never know where it’s going to take you, and it’s a journey, not a destination.  You shouldn’t waste a second, because Life is short, and ultimately…Life is beautiful. 40 pages; ages 4-adult

Pros:  Lots of great (if somewhat clichéd) advice for anyone.  The illustrations are cute, especially the fuzzy gray Life.  This would make a good graduation gift.

Cons:  The message seems more appropriate for older readers, and may go over the heads of the younger audience.

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