Snow Angel, Sand Angel

Starred review from August 30, 2021
When tan-skinned Claire, who lives on Hawai’i, is assigned winter as the subject of a school diorama, she realizes she’s “never even seen real snow!” When her father suggests taking her to Mauna Kea, “the tallest mountain in the world, if you measure from seafloor to summit,” Claire is excited to witness snow for the first time—only to be disappointed by the winter gear, sled, and snowman her family provides. On New Year’s Eve, however, Claire soon realizes the beauty of the land around her—and just how magnificent what it provides can be. Lukashevsky’s distinctive digital illustrations, rendered in a vibrant color palette, punctuate Yamanaka’s lush, sensory descriptions, threaded with informational facts and Native Hawaiian culture, in this poignant story of yearning for travel and appreciation for home by a Hawai’i-born team. Back matter includes an author’s note on climate change and Indigenous stewardship, as well as a glossary and note from the publisher. Ages 4–8.

October 1, 2021
Grades 1-3 In Hawaii, Claire gets daily sun, sand, and ocean waves, but she is fascinated with snow. Studying the seasons at school, she is frustrated to be assigned "winter." How can she write about something so foreign to her? Asserting that there is snow in Hawaii, her father takes the family up the mountain Mauna Kea. Claire is disappointed to find that the snow is more like ice. Her family builds a chunky snowman, but Claire dreams of soft, fluffy snow, a real sled, and a cozy woolen hat. On a trip to the beach the next day, her father is inspired to build a sandman, and as they make sand angels, Claire appreciates the appeal of her home. Vivid, lively illustrations and descriptive text bring the natural beauty of the setting to life, including details about the plants, animals, and history of the area. An author's note explains that the Big Island of Hawaii contains 10 of the world's 14 climate zones, making this title a terrific tool for science connections, as well as a warm family story.

COPYRIGHT(2021) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

March 1, 2022
Claire, who lives with her family in Hawai'i, yearns to experience snow. Her family visits Mauna Kea, but the snow there isn't the kind she's seen in movies -- she wants soft snow, not icy. She also wants real mittens (not socks), a real scarf (not an old beach towel), a real snowman (not the sad-looking lump they build), and a real sled (not the "sugarcane truck inner tube" that bumps over the hard snow). But her discontent dissipates after a day at nearby Hapuna Beach, where her family builds a sandman, using shells for eyes, driftwood for a pipe, and coral for a smile. Claire floats happily in the waves (in the inner tube), and then everyone makes sand angels. Claire now realizes she lives on a "beautiful island of lava fields, sandy beaches, rain forests, fiery volcanoes, sacred mountains, and, yes, even snow." This "grass is always greener" story will fascinate kids accustomed to snow every winter and will remind kids in warmer climates of the beauty to be found in their own surroundings. Yamanaka and Lukashevsky both convey their love of their home state; the lyrically written narrative contains Hawaiian words (glossary/pronunciation guide included), and the digital illustrations glow with vibrant colors, the multi-hued ocean imagery far outshining Claire's imaginary pink and purple snow scenes. Jennifer M. Brabander

(Copyright 2022 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

Starred review from September 1, 2021
A girl growing up in Hawaii finally experiences snow, but it isn't what she expected. Claire's teacher assigns them to make dioramas about the seasons, and Claire is disappointed to get winter. Claire has lived on the Big Island of Hawaii all her life and has never seen real snow. To give her a taste, Claire's father takes the family up to Mauna Kea to see snow, but it's a disappointment. The snow is hard and blocky, like ice; she can't run around because of the altitude; and the snowman they build is all lumpy. Claire dreams of becoming a snow angel, flying away to a snowy place that is more beautiful and more special than the island. Then the family makes a trip to Hapuna Beach, where her parents share their knowledge of the Native Hawaiian names of the hundred winds and many sea creatures. Claire begins to see the beauty of the place she calls home. Both Yamanaka and Lukashevsky were born and raised in Hawaii, and their affection for it shines in this beautiful homage to the Big Island. Claire embodies the common process of wanting to experience new things and discovering the beauty in your own heritage and homeland. The narration includes Hawaiian names for places, fish, and plants, while the illustrations revel in their vigor and beauty. Claire and her family have brown skin and straight, black hair. (This book was reviewed digitally.) A wonderful recognition of land, culture, family, and heritage. (author's note, glossary, publisher's note) (Picture book. 4-8)

COPYRIGHT(2021) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

January 1, 2022
Claire, who lives with her family in Hawai'i, yearns to experience snow. Her family visits Mauna Kea, but the snow there isn't the kind she's seen in movies -- she wants soft snow, not icy. She also wants real mittens (not socks), a real scarf (not an old beach towel), a real snowman (not the sad-looking lump they build), and a real sled (not the "sugarcane truck inner tube" that bumps over the hard snow). But her discontent dissipates after a day at nearby Hapuna Beach, where her family builds a sandman, using shells for eyes, driftwood for a pipe, and coral for a smile. Claire floats happily in the waves (in the inner tube), and then everyone makes sand angels. Claire now realizes she lives on a "beautiful island of lava fields, sandy beaches, rain forests, fiery volcanoes, sacred mountains, and, yes, even snow." This "grass is always greener" story will fascinate kids accustomed to snow every winter and will remind kids in warmer climates of the beauty to be found in their own surroundings. Yamanaka and Lukashevsky both convey their love of their home state; the lyrically written narrative contains Hawaiian words (glossary/pronunciation guide included), and the digital illustrations glow with vibrant colors, the multihued ocean imagery far outshining Claire's imaginary pink and purple snow scenes.

(Copyright 2022 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)