SILENT MUSIC by James Rumford (Roaring Brook Press, 2008).
Picture Book for ages 4-8, 32 pp.
Hawaii-based author/illustrator James Rumford has put a human face on war in his 2008 picture book, Silent Music (Roaring Brook Press).
It is by turns a poignant glimpse into the life of an Iraqi boy named Ali, a gorgeous, impeccably designed celebration of the art of Arabic calligraphy, and an interesting study in contrasts that renews our faith in the resiliency of the human spirit.
Recently, I asked my long time friend, O’ahu resident, and fellow Paul McCartney stalker admirer, Sylvia, for some Hawai’i-related book recommendations and a favorite local recipe.
I thought a librarian’s suggestions would be helpful, since books about Hawai’i, especially those for children, vary greatly in quality and substance, running the gamut from mass market vanity press touristy books about sharks and surfboards, to solidly researched and beautifully written trade books (like the works of James Rumford and Graham Salisbury).
It seems most Hawai’i books are published by regional publishers with limited distribution. They’re available for purchase online, of course, but it’s difficult to assess their quality in the absence of reliable reviews or personal recommendations.
So here are Sylvia’s picks:
Guess what I’m eating this weekend?
Just the thought of all those little dishes and plates full of char siu bao (barbecue pork buns), har gow (shrimp dumplings), and siu mai (pork and mushroom dumplings) is enough to quicken my pulse and make my eyes roll back in my head. *salivates and smacks lips*
But it’s not my usual shameful self indulgence. This time, I have a legitimate excuse — Monday, January 26th, is Chinese Lunar New Year!
I love you, shrimp dumplings!
It’s the year of the Ox, also called the Brown Cow. I checked my astrological forecast, and my lucky element is Fire. I’ve been advised to wear red and decorate my home in a red scheme to energize my life.
#1 in an ongoing series of posts celebrating the alphabet.
Calling all fish lovers!
Whip out your good time goggles and dive straight into this playful book!
Leslie Ann Hayashi and Kathleen Wong Bishop, long time pals from Wahiawa (the unheralded center of the creative universe), really know how to make a splash when it comes to the alphabet.
Did someone just say alphabet? Hold me down, please.
Fables from the Garden by Leslie Ann Hayashi,
pictures by Kathleen Wong Bishop,
(University of Hawai’i Press, 1998), ages 4-8, 40 pp.
What a small world!
This week I’m featuring several books written and illustrated by two women originally from my home town of Wahiawa, on the island of O’ahu. Since they’re younger than I am, I didn’t know them growing up, but happily I know them now through their charming picture books.
Jama's Alphabet Soup 