[tropical review] Aloha Everything by Kaylin Melia George and Mae Waite

~ jama

Care to swim with the sea turtles, soar high above the earth with regal hawks, or hear wondrous tales of heroic voyagers navigating the Pacific by wind and stars?

Then join a young Hawaiian girl as she takes a magical journey around the Islands in this gorgeous new picture book, Aloha Everything by Kaylin Melia George and Mae Waite (Red Comet Press, 2024). Through the traditional storytelling dance of the hula, she learns about the history, culture, and folklore of her homeland while embracing the true meaning of “Aloha.”

We first meet little Ano one enchanted night:

In the hush of the night
with the moon still aglow,
a small baby was born
where the koa trees grow,

where lehua blooms bright,
where the mo'o give chase,
where the ocean spray's kiss
meets the sky's close embrace.

With her curls kapa soft,
breath like breadfruit so sweet,
this dear child evermore
shared the island's heartbeat.

This fierce-spirited, courageous child, so swift and smart, grew in both mind and heart. She was indeed special, but still had much to learn. What did hula teach her with its generations of treasured stories and rich lore?

First, she learned how the islands were formed, and about the evolution of plants and wildlife. As “humble seeds burst to blooms,” and “rock eroded to sand . . . a world born ablaze turned to lush wonderland.” Soon creatures filled the land, sea and sky from “mauka to makai.” Clinging to a hawk’s wings, the girl surveyed all these wonders from her perch amid the clouds, while the majestic bird imparted his wisdom: “To our ‘āina be just./When we care for our earth,/then our earth cares for us.”

Next, Ano learned how her courageous ancestors sailed to Hawaiʻi in their mighty canoes. From faraway places, they journeyed through towering waves to explore unknown lands. She listened to her aunties talk story as they pounded bark from the mulberry tree into cloth, strengthening their enduring belief in family. Nothing was more important than holding fast to and respecting one’s ohana, “those here and those passed.”

Finally, Ano learned about the great tales of old — myths and legends of brave heroes, deep-rooted stories of action and romance. Each time these preserved records were passed down, they branched out and flourished anew. Then the hula goddess Laka appeared, reminding her to tell these kaʻao with pride: “On these islands we live with our lore by our side.”

So Ano grew into a wahine with the heartbeat of her home deeply entrenched in her soul and an eternal love for the land, the people, and the lore. Hula had taught her that living with and giving aloha to everyone and everything was the essence of being Hawaiian.

George’s lyrical rhyming quatrains reference the tone and cadences of ancient storytelling, honoring Hawaiʻi’s revered oral tradition. She’s incorporated 25 Hawaiian words in the text, along with factual details about evolution, natural forms, ecology and mythology. The repetitive use of the “What Did Hula Teach Her?” refrain divides the narrative into three “lessons,” making it easier for kids to follow. Just as hula tells stories and imparts vital information via chants, songs, and movement, her verses enchant and delight with a music all their own.

Mae Waite’s lush, color-saturated spreads celebrate the incredible diversity of Hawaiʻi’s flora and fauna. Rendered in acrylic and gouache, they capture the singular beauty of the island chain and accentuate the story’s blend of realism and fantasy, history and myth.

From the exquisite colors of a coral reef teeming with sea life, to the high drama of canoes battling turbulent waters, to the magnetic energy of Maui lassoing the sun, Waite’s paintings draw readers into each dazzling scene, inspiring wonder and curiosity.

Who would not want to learn more about the many different kinds of fish cavorting with turtles, squid, crab, monk seals, dolphins, and octopuses? Or what about the gorgeous crimson, purple, and orange tropical flowers in the garden, or the fiery river of lava flanked by gods and goddesses? There’s so much to keep eager eyes poring over the pictures for hours.

I was happy to see this book, since engaging, informative, and thoughtfully executed picture books about Hawaiʻi are few and far between. Even at a time when more diverse books are being published for children, only about 0.05% of titles feature Pacific Islanders.

Aloha Everything also has an interesting genesis. The project began as a Kickstarter campaign in 2023, with author and illustrator having worked together each step of the way for almost 3 years. It was then published in April 2024 by Red Comet Press, and has thus far received **starred reviews** from Kirkus and Foreword Magazine.

Back matter includes a Pronunciation Guide and Glossary of Hawaiian words. The publisher also offers fun and educational downloadable I-Spy Activity Sheets (The Seabed, The Garden, The Lava Flow). Highly recommend this book with its empowered female main character and timely message: keep the spirit of Aloha in your heart by taking care of the earth, cherishing humanity, and championing the art of storytelling. 🙂

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ALOHA EVERYTHING
written by Kaylin Melia George
illustrated by Mae Waite
published by Red Comet Press, April 2024
Picture Book for ages 5-8, 40pp.
*Includes Pronunciation Guide and Glossary
**Starred Reviews** from Kirkus and Foreword Magazine

Amazon
Bookshop
Red Comet Press

♥️ Check out the cool I-Spy Worksheets.

♥️ Enjoy this Kickstarter Launch video with Kaylin and Mae discussing the book:

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Lovely and talented Janice Scully is hosting the Roundup at Salt City Verse. She’s sharing three poems from Carol Labuzzetta’s new ekphrastic anthology, Picture Perfect Poetry. Zip on over to check out all the poetic goodness being shared around the blogosphere this week. Have a good weekend and Happy June!

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*Interior spreads text copyright © 2024 Kaylin Melia George, illustrations © 2024 Mae Waite, published by Red Comet Press. All rights reserved.

**Copyright © 2024 Jama Rattigan of Jama’s Alphabet Soup. All rights reserved.

30 thoughts on “[tropical review] Aloha Everything by Kaylin Melia George and Mae Waite”

  1. Hooray! Before I even finished the video, I sent a link for this blog to someone I work with that’s from Hawaii that has grandchildren and I think would LOVE to just know this book exists. Jama, I cannot tell you how many of YOUR recommendations I pass on…just about every book. Thank you! You’ve touched the lives of so many of my friends and students. Aloha Everything is absolutely beautiful…and it brings the beauty of Hawaii to readers through it’s pages. I hope this wins awards!

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Thanks for passing on the link and for spreading the word about some of the books featured here. 🙂 Means a lot to get your feedback!!

      Aloha Everything is indeed beautiful; we definitely need more books like it. Are you familiar with James Rumford’s books about Hawaii?

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  2. Pingback: chronological book review archive (2008-2024) | Jama's Alphabet Soup

  3. Jama, thank you for sharing this wonderful book. I can’t wait to share it with students. I love the excerpts you have shared, but am most struck by

    where the ocean spray’s kiss
    meets the sky’s close embrace.

    What incredible imagery.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Indeed a rich book that accurately represents Hawaii’s history and culture. Hope you get to see the book in person to fully appreciate the art.

      Like

  5. Dear Jama, I’m sure you love this book & I am excited to read and learn more about this history and the stories handed down. It looks fabulous, and my library has it! Thank you!

    Liked by 2 people

  6. Oh, this one is truly beautiful… And you’re right – there are so vanishingly few Pacific Islander tales of any value… here’s hoping it encourages a few more writers with lived experience and AAPI roots. It’s a double delight to see this.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. It’s always encouraging to see a Hawaii book for kids, and this one is especially inspiring because of the initiative author and illustrator took to make it happen. And a Kirkus star is no small feat.

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  7. Jama, a masterclass in book reviews! I want to dive into those colorful pages. The stories sound fascinating, and I love how everything is tied together with hula as a teacher.

    Liked by 2 people

  8. Such gorgeous words and art! It’s gratifying to see an example of a self-published picture book garnering these reviews. Thank you, Jama.

    Liked by 2 people

  11. Jama, thank you for making us want to reach for this book for ourselves. You have made us realize it is a treasure. The illustrations are rich, and the storytelling rhyme scheme is fun to read. Good for them for beginning it as a Kickstarter and seeing it through to this gorgeous completion. Thank you for this book review.

    Liked by 1 person

  12. What inspiring perseverance led to this book! The gorgeous illustrations make it look like a Caldecott nominee-in-the-making to me. Congrats to everyone involved!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I am old school when it comes to illustrations. While I recognize the merits of digital illos, I always have a special fondness for those that are painted traditionally.

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  13. What a gorgeous book! Thanks for highlighting this one, Jama. I also just shared your post with my daughter (the youth services librarian)! xo

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Definitely an interesting path to publication. I remember being repeatedly told that author and illustrator (if not the same person) should never collaborate, communicate, or meet in any way. While most picture books are still done this way (for good reasons too), this proves it’s not the only way to create a good book.

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  15. Clearly, a book after your own heart, and, as you pointed out, important representation with an equally important universal message.

    Liked by 1 person

  17. Jama, even though I missed this blog post when you posted it, I am so thrilled to backtrack to read your blog tonight. This book is full of vivid, gorgeous illustrations and a wonderful story of a beautiful child. Kaylin Melia George and Mae Waite are to be commended for “Aloha Everything” and you for showcasing this book that belongs in school libraries.

    Liked by 1 person

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