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Limu: The Blue Turtle and His Hawaiian Garden
ARMITAGE, Kimo., Limu: The Blue Turtle and His Hawaiian Garden. Waipahu, Hawai’i: Island Heritage Publishing (94-411 Ko’aki St, Waipahu, Hawaii). 2004. 28p. ISBN 0-93154-864-0 (hc). $9.95. Illus.
Limu: The Blue Turtle and His Hawaiian Garden is about a sea turtle named Limu and the trouble he encounters in his underwater garden. He had the most beautiful garden in the entire ocean and took very good care of it. One day, his friend, a humpback whale, gives Limu a seaweed tree to grow in his garden. This seaweed starts to grow too large, and overpowers Limu’s garden. He decides to take it back to where it came from. Along the way, Limu encounters another sea turtle and together, they are able to return the seaweed and restore Limu’s underwater garden.
As a children’s book, it is appropriately geared towards elementary-aged children. The plot is easy to understand and the artwork complemented the storyline. The illustrator, Scott Kaneshiro, used bright colors, making each page colorful and attractive. The pictures aid in the comprehension of the storyline. Author Kimo Armitage incorporated an important Hawaiian value in the story, which is to help each other in times of need. Just as the Hawaiians tried to help anyone in need of a hand, another sea turtle helped Limu when she saw him struggling. This aspect of the story could be a good moral lesson for children reading this book. They can learn from the story’s example that we should help others whenever we can.
At the end of the book, Limu’s children are seen with their Hawaiian names. I would have liked to see a Hawaiian translation page for the names that appeared in the book. As a person who grew up in Hawai‘i, I know what the Hawaiian words limu and aloha means. But, children not raised in Hawaii may not understand what these words mean. By having a glossary of Hawaiian words, it may perk a child’s interest in the Hawaiian language and encourage him or her to learn more Hawaiian words.
This author has written other stories for children, including another book about Limu titled, Limu: The Blue Turtle, which is also illustrated by Scott Kaneshiro. This is available in hardcover and/or with a mini CD. Many of Armitage’s books promote the Hawaiian culture and tell of the Hawaiian traditions. One of his books, Akua Hawai‘i: Hawaiian Gods and Their Stories, has won the Ka Palapala Po`okela award of excellence in children’s Hawaiian culture from the Hawai‘i Book Publishers Association.
I would suggest elementary school teachers or librarians to purchase this book, especially to expand their Pacific collection. This is a good way to introduce the Hawaiian culture to a child, or to even reinforce the Hawaiian values that presented are in the story. This book can also be used as a lesson guide on helping others in times of need. I also feel that this is a visually appealing picture book that can help students follow along with the storyline. The illustrations are bright and colorful, which is perfectly orchestrated with the author’s story.
Limu: The Blue Turtle and His Hawaiian Garden is about a sea turtle named Limu and the trouble he encounters in his underwater garden. He had the most beautiful garden in the entire ocean and took very good care of it. One day, his friend, a humpback whale, gives Limu a seaweed tree to grow in his garden. This seaweed starts to grow too large, and overpowers Limu’s garden. He decides to take it back to where it came from. Along the way, Limu encounters another sea turtle and together, they are able to return the seaweed and restore Limu’s underwater garden.
As a children’s book, it is appropriately geared towards elementary-aged children. The plot is easy to understand and the artwork complemented the storyline. The illustrator, Scott Kaneshiro, used bright colors, making each page colorful and attractive. The pictures aid in the comprehension of the storyline. Author Kimo Armitage incorporated an important Hawaiian value in the story, which is to help each other in times of need. Just as the Hawaiians tried to help anyone in need of a hand, another sea turtle helped Limu when she saw him struggling. This aspect of the story could be a good moral lesson for children reading this book. They can learn from the story’s example that we should help others whenever we can.
At the end of the book, Limu’s children are seen with their Hawaiian names. I would have liked to see a Hawaiian translation page for the names that appeared in the book. As a person who grew up in Hawai‘i, I know what the Hawaiian words limu and aloha means. But, children not raised in Hawaii may not understand what these words mean. By having a glossary of Hawaiian words, it may perk a child’s interest in the Hawaiian language and encourage him or her to learn more Hawaiian words.
This author has written other stories for children, including another book about Limu titled, Limu: The Blue Turtle, which is also illustrated by Scott Kaneshiro. This is available in hardcover and/or with a mini CD. Many of Armitage’s books promote the Hawaiian culture and tell of the Hawaiian traditions. One of his books, Akua Hawai‘i: Hawaiian Gods and Their Stories, has won the Ka Palapala Po`okela award of excellence in children’s Hawaiian culture from the Hawai‘i Book Publishers Association.
I would suggest elementary school teachers or librarians to purchase this book, especially to expand their Pacific collection. This is a good way to introduce the Hawaiian culture to a child, or to even reinforce the Hawaiian values that presented are in the story. This book can also be used as a lesson guide on helping others in times of need. I also feel that this is a visually appealing picture book that can help students follow along with the storyline. The illustrations are bright and colorful, which is perfectly orchestrated with the author’s story.
Submitted in October 2009 by Erika Ichihara, LIS Student, University of Hawaii at Manoa.
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