Punky Aloha

This charming debut picture book is sure to collect admirers. The message is simple, but the delivery is fresh and vibrant, set amid the flora and fauna of Hawaii. One day Punky's grandmother decides she needs butter (for the banana bread) and sends Punky out to get it--by herself. Punky is afraid of meeting new people because she's so shy. Grandma gives her a pair of magical glasses that make the wearer brave. Predictably, Punky encounters a series of situations in which creatures need her help. Rather than succumbing to her shyness, she extends herself and, in return, makes friends. When the magic bravery glasses get broken, Punky realizes that she doesn't need them after all. She returns to Grandma armed with fresh butter, courage in her heart, and a gaggle of new friends. This is a tender, happy story that will make a delightful read-aloud.

Tuiasoa's debut follows a lively protagonist in a winning arc toward relational confidence, assuring readers that "making new friends doesn't have to be scary." Narrator Punky Aloha, a Polynesian child who wears a flower behind one ear and brown hair swept into a bun, is on a mission to obtain butter for Grandma's banana bread--"not just any banana bread... Grandma's famous, fresh-baked, bananas-from-the-backyard, warm-from-the-oven banana bread." Unable to accompany Punky to the store, Grandma offers "magical brave glasses, for brave adventurers like you" to help overcome Punky's shyness, as well as a reminder to "Be helpful. Be Giving. Be Brave" by way of "shar our aloha." As Punky sets off on a skateboard, encountering a distressed pig who needs help transporting mangoes, a sad bee who has collected an insufficient pollen store, and another child on wheels, each encounter gives Punky an opportunity to practice moving from internal fear to external kindness. Round-lined digital illustrations lush in greens, blues, oranges, and yellows summon the island's warmth, giving an airy ease to a sweet intergenerational story of interacting with one's community--and gaining a "heart full of courage." Ages 4--8. (May)