Ho’onani: Hula Warrior by Heather Gale

Ho’onani: Hula Warrior by Heather Gale is a delightful, empowering picture book for kids based on a true story. Ho’onani is part of a big, loving family who mostly encourage her to be herself. All but her sister, that is. Her sister can’t understand why Ho’onani doesn’t act like a ‘normal’ girl. But Ho’onani doesn’t feel like a ‘girl’. She doesn’t feel like a ‘boy’ either. She feels somewhere in-between. Hawai’ian actually has a word for someone who feels this way, and it was perfectly acceptable before contact with Europeans. (Many indigenous cultures all over the world had or have anywhere from 3-10 gender identities. The concept is not as new and radical as opponents of the idea would have people believe.) When it is announced at her school that a hula will be performed, Ho’onani decides to try out, even though it is supposed to be the boys only. Not only does she succeed in getting a place with the troupe, she ends up the leader of it! This is a great illustration that if a person is capable of something, gender stereotypes shouldn’t prevent them from being able to do it. I like the fact that the antagonistic, doubting sister didn’t stifle Ho’onani’s determination and dedication. I read this with my cubs and we all enjoyed it. Highly recommended!

***Many thanks to the Netgalley & Penguin Random House/ Tundra Books for providing an egalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

 

Geo Detectives: Volcanoes & Earthquakes by Anita Ganeri & Chris Oxlade

Join Ava and George as they explore mighty natural phenomena in Ganeri & Oxlade’s Geo Detectives: Volcanoes & Earthquakes. A perfect introduction to the natural world for young readers, stuffed full of neat facts and awesome experiments. With easy to find materials, and ingredients, budding geo detectives can get up close and personal with the mechanisms behind volcanic eruptions, tectonic plate movement and more! I read this with my cubs, and we had fun trying the experiments. Definitely a bonus for teaching grade school science!  

***Many thanks to the Netgalley & Quarto Publishing for providing an egalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

 

Geo Detectives: The Water Cycle by Anita Ganeri & Chris Oxlade

The Water Cycle is another great addition to the Geo Detectives series by Anita Ganeri & Chris Oxlade. A perfect introduction to climate and the natural world for young readers, stuffed full of neat facts and awesome experiments. With easy to find materials, and ingredients, budding geo detectives can get up close and personal with the water cycle and more! I read this with my cubs, and we had fun trying the experiments. Definitely a bonus for teaching grade school science!  

***Many thanks to the Netgalley & Quarto Publishing for providing an egalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

 

King Mouse by Cary Fagan

King Mouse by Cary Fagan is the story of a mouse who finds a random crown. When asked if he is a king, he happily agrees and more and more animals show up, and do things for him. But one by one, the other animals find crowns and decide they, too, are kings and queens. I found this story rather boring, and was left asking ‘Wtf is purpose of this?‘. It seemed to just end with no real point, and no beneficial lesson embedded within. I wasn’t a huge fan of the art either. Honestly, if it were not for the fact I read this with my cubs, and some of them enjoyed it, I would have DNF’d it. 

***Many thanks to the Netgalley & Penguin Random House/ Tundra Books for providing an egalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.