It’s a fact of the marketplace that many picture books with the unfortunate timing of being released during the COVID pandemic were often not given the attention they deserved. And that’s really too bad, because they merit space on our bookshelves. Punky Aloha, the debut picture book by talented author/illustrator Shar Tuiʻasoa, is one of these hidden gems. Released in mid-2020 during the height of the pandemic, Punky is just the kind of delightful story kids — and their grown-ups — will love.

Some picture books are classics. They tell timeless tales that teach us about the world and our place in it. One such classic also happens to be one of the first Native Hawaiian-themed books written in an authentic voice. Too Many Mangoes by Tammy Paikai is a story based on the author’s childhood experience. This gentle story is about two Hawaiian kids, Kama and Nani, who love to climb the mango tree at their grandpaʻs house. One day grandpa asks them to pick some mangoes, but when he realizes that the kids have picked way too many for their family to eat, he instructs them to give the mangoes away to their neighbors. Thus the adventure begins.