Sheila Hamanaka

Sheila Hamanaka has managed to turn difference of color into pure poetry. In "All of the Colors of the Earth," she begins: "Children come in all the colors of the earth" and describes what she means both in gorgeous illustrations and soaring poetry.

The softly-colored pictures by the author/illustrator show the similarities between the diversity of color on the planet, and those who inhabit it. For example, one girl is described as having a complexion like the "crackling russets of fallen show more leaves." Two little boys playing on the beach have skin the color of "the tinkling pinks of tiny seashells by the rumbling sea." All children, she avers, no matter what color, are united by love, for "love is amber and ivory and ginger and sweet." "Children come in all the colors of love, In endless shades of you and me."

Evaluation: This book celebrates difference, and encourages kids to see it as part of nature itself, and as beautiful. show less

This book jumped out at me with its beautiful illustrations and flowing, poem-like quality. I love how the author-illustrator, Sheila Hamanaka, includes curved, flowing text and muted colors that resemble watercolors; both make the book calming. The book is an "echo structure;" it has the same first line and last line: "Children come in all the colors of the earth and sky and sea." The body text of the book includes beautiful metaphors, similes, onomatopoeia and personification to describe show more the shades of children across the earth. For example: "The whispering golds of late summer grasses, And crackling russets of fallen leaves, The tinkling pinks of tiny seashells by the rumbling sea." Overall, this is a gorgeous book that celebrates the diversity of children and rejoices in their reveling in the beauty of life and the earth. show less

Grandparent’s Song is a beautiful story along with beautiful illustrations that were inspired by American Folk art. The main character is a girl who says- “My eyes are green like the sea, like the sea and my hair is dark and blows free, blows free”. The character tells us all about her grandparents and the different places they came from. She tells us about her mother’s parents as well as her father’s parents. My favorite passage that I read from the character was towards the show more ending of the story where she says, - “From the four directions my grandparents came their lives are a river that flows through my veins”. It is clear to see that the girl admires her grandparents and feels that no matter where they came from she is a part of them. The story seems to be almost like a song because on each page a lot of things the young girl says is repeated more than once. This is a sweet story that I find young readers would thoroughly enjoy reading as well as admire the illustration. show less

In my opinion, this story is very enjoyable to read and celebrates the independence of women. The language is extremely descriptive and exciting. Metaphors and similes are used to describe the attitudes and feelings of this girl. For example, the book reads, “For I’m really a mustang, wild horse on the mesa. Wind across the canyon floor. As I sore with condors, the Earth spins below me. I know how it feels to be free.” The writing is very engaging due to the use of figurative language show more and detailed descriptions of the animals’ energies. These exciting words evoke emotional responses of freedom, confidence, and self-assurance. The main character is expressing her independence when she states, “With the moon, I’ll be howling. With the wolves, I’ll be racing. Through a forest that never ends.” This character is telling the reader that she has a wild heart and is free to do whatever she wants. Gender stereotypes are challenged in this story when the book reads, “throw out those old myths about boys and girls and what you expect me to be.” The character does not want anyone telling her that she can’t be something because she’s a girl. I also love the beautifully drawn illustrations. The detailed drawings of animals and the colorful background images perfectly set the mood of the story. The book pushes readers to think about what it means to be independent. The big idea of the story is that girls should have just as much freedom and independence as boys. show less