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New keiki books
tackle adverbs, too
Board books go beyond
By Cynthia Oi
the basics of Hawaiian
Star-BulletinFIVE new board books for children offer Hawaiian-language translations of simple English sentences along with bright illustrations. Four of the books from Island Heritage are written by Elaine Masters with art by Yuko Green.
Green's colorful pictures of the ocean, turtles, seals and chubby little children will likely catch the eye of any youngster.
As expected, the text is composed of simple sentences. Unexpected is the featured Hawaiian word on each of the pages of "Where's Kimo's Daddy?" and "Where's Malia's Mama?" They aren't nouns, like a lizard or flower, that young child could easily identify, but adverbs and prepositions instead.
Each featured Hawaiian word is used in a sentence, (although the word "ma luna" (on) in "Where's Kimo's Daddy?" isn't). Non-Hawaiian-speaking parents may have to spend a little time figuring out what the Hawaiian word means what in the sentences, although the repetitious text will help.
Masters said she used the more complex words because other books have already provided basic vocabulary.
"Publishers aren't interested in what someone else has done," she said.
She said she did not translate the English herself; it was done by 'Ahahui 'Olelo Hawaii'i, according to the publisher. She also said she hoped the book would sell to Hawaiian immersion classes.
The fifth book, "Keiki Counting," written and illustrated by Tammy Yee, may be easier to use in teaching basic Hawaiian. It simply translates numerals into Hawaiian. It also provides an English-language sentence using simple Hawaiian words, then translates each word. An attractive illustration accompanies each number so that children can count four butterflies or seven sea shells as they learn the Hawaiian words.
The books are $3.99 each and are available at most bookstores.
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