Hula Lullaby
PreSchool-Grade 3-The sights and sounds of Hawaii are brought to life in this gentle picture book. Surrounded by hula dancers and native musicians, a little girl is lulled to sleep in her mother's lap under a starry sky. Hawaiian words are interwoven into the rhyming verses that describe the glow of the firelight, the movement of the dancers, and the rhythm of the instruments. A brief foreword defines the unfamiliar vocabulary and outlines the "Aloha Spirit." Lovely, lush paintings reminiscent of Paul Gauguin's Tahitian period illustrate the story. The design of many of the spreads effectively conveys a sense of flowing movement consistent with the motion and music portrayed. While this title is eminently suitable as a bedtime story, it could also be used with classes that are studying Hawaii.-Rosalyn Pierini, San Luis Obispo City-County Library, CACopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.