“This is the poi for our ‘ohana’s lū‘au” begins this cumulative rhyme styled on “The House That Jack Built,” in which a group of Native Hawaiians prepares for a shared meal. A note in the back matter elaborates on poi, a smooth purple paste made from ground kalo, a plant deeply entwined in Hawaiian tradition and legends. “This is the kalo to make the poi for our ‘ohana’s lū‘au.” The text paints a picture of the plant’s environment: There is “the water, clear and cold” in which the plants are submerged, located on “land that’s never been sold,” flooded by a “stream of sunlit gold.” In the earth-tone illustrations there are the humans, young and old, who cultivate and harvest the kalo; hands that pluck it from the ground; a line of people in a field filling and passing crates and baskets. Judicious use of alliteration and assonance in a rhyme that encompasses tradition, community, setting, and culture make this an absolute pleasure to read aloud. (Ages 3-7)

Join the family, or ohana, as they farm taro for poi to prepare for a traditional luau celebration with a poetic text in the style of The House That Jack Built.

An American Library Association Notable Children’s Book

"This is the land that's never been sold, where work the hands, so wise and old, that reach through the water, clear and cold, into the mud to pick the taro to make the poi for our ohana's luau."

Acclaimed illustrator and animator Kenard Pak's light-filled, dramatic illustrations pair exquisitely with Ilima Loomis' text to celebrate Hawaiian land and culture.

The backmatter includes a glossary of Hawaiian terms used, as well as an author's note.


A Kirkus Reviews Best Book of the Year
A New York Public Library Best Book of the Year
A Bank Street Best Childrens Book of the Year!
A Booklist Editor's Choice