Tuiasoa, Shar. Punky Aloha. Shar Tuiasoa, Illus. HarperCollins, 06/2022. [32]pp. Picture Book. Trade $17.99. 978-0-06-307923-6. GRADES Preschool – 1. ADDITIONAL.
Punky feels too shy to go to the store alone to purchase butter for Grandma’s banana bread, but Grandma sends her on her way with her “magical brave glasses,” a skateboard (no helmet!), and a reminder to “share our aloha.” In the spirit of aloha, Punky helps others along the way, and returns home with new-found confidence. Vibrant, digitally created illustrations done in shades of yellow, green, orange, and brown do a nice job with facial expressions and depicting Punky’s island home. But the thin storyline is probably best only for the youngest listeners.
Cindy Gullikson—Joaquin Miller School, Oakland Unified School District