Keiki bookshelf

Kupuna help picky eater transform his eating habits

"You Don’t Eat, You Don’t Grow," by Nicole Tonaki, teaches kids the importance of healthy eating habits. The story focuses on DJ, an extremely picky eater who changes his ways thanks to his grandparents’ influence.

After helping his grandma tend the garden and using the fresh ingredients to make tasty treats like mango bread and guava jelly, he begins to try new foods. Then when grandpa measures him, he finds that he has grown a bit.

Available at www.tatepublishing.com for $11.99.

Surprise and adventure fill lives of young twins 

"The Adventures of Amarys and Indigo" is a book series that focuses on the antics of 4-year-old twins of mixed African ancestry. The stories, authored and self-published by Amira Shea, are based on experiences with her own children and geared toward early readers. The tales all begin with the premise that "they are very good children, except when they’re not!"

"Catch a Fish" takes the twins on a beach adventure where they capture a fish and learn compassion for the creature. 

"Rainy Day Pond" shares a tale of the twins getting into some trouble when they explore a muddy pond in lieu of an afternoon snack. 

And "A Mushroom in the Bathroom" tells the surprising story of the kids discovering an odd growth on the bathroom floor. 

The vibrant illustrations by Sandee Chica fill the kids’ features with wonder and innocence. These first three books in the series are available at www.paradisewriting.com for $12.50 each. 

Turtle tale also offers education and resources

Andrew Rossiter, director of the Waikiki Aquarium, provides an endorsement for Carol Malnor’s book, "On Kiki’s Reef" (Dawn Publications, $8.95), noting its authenticity and educational value. 

The story follows Kiki, a green sea turtle, through colorful reef as she encounters an array of sea creatures. The brilliant watercolor illustrations by Trina Hunner capture Kiki’s spectacular home as she emerges as a hatchling, observes the other critters, avoids potential dangers and eventually returns to her birthplace to lay her own eggs. 

A glossary provides educational tidbits from the stages of the sea turtle’s life cycle and details on predators. Another section lists educational activities, informative websites and provides illustrations of the critters featured in the book with detailed descriptions. 

The book is available at www.dawnpub.com/our-books/on-kikis-reef or amazon.com.

Irish and island folklore unite in sweet love story

John Sauget’s tale, "The Menehune and the Leprechaun," blends the culture of the islands with Irish folklore. The result: a love story ending with a "leprehune." 

Seamus, a leprechaun, stows away on a ship. When he is discovered, he jumps off near the islands and swims to shore. 

There he meets Kawila, a menehune, who takes him to her village. The pair slide down a rainbow and find a pot of gold. Seamus dances an Irish jig; Kawila dances a hula. 

After Kawila and Seamus receive a message from the "Hawaiian bowl of light" saying that they are destined to be together, they make their home in a magical castle in the clouds and begin their family with the birth of their son Kale, a leprehune. 

The story is illustrated in line drawings by Phil "Tiki" Wulf that are meant to be colored by young readers.