Title: Kimo and Kalini: A Hawaiian Mouse Tail
Author: Jimbo Harris
Publisher: XlibrisUS
ISBN: 978-1-5245-4598-7
Genre: Illustrated Children’s
Book Reviewed by: Beth Adams
Pacific Book Review Star
Awarded to Books of Excellent Merit
Let’s say “Aloha” to two mice who live in Hawaii, Kimo and Kalini. Author and artist Jimbo Harris personifies these charming little creatures with human qualities, weaving their love story into an adventure titled Kimo and Kalini: A Hawaiian Mouse Tail. As one can instantly tell from the title, Harris has a sense of humor, using the word “tail” for “tale.” But that’s just the beginning of the combination of literary themes interleaved into this book. He goes on introducing readers to some island geography, Hawaiian words and geology of lava tubes and ocean blowholes; all around the relationship Kimo and his girlfriend mouse Kalini have, as they frolic on the beach on the island of Oahu.
Kimo discovers a mouse-sized surfboard half buried in the sand and digs it out. With an instinctual ability to surf, being a Hawaiian mouse of course, he takes to “hanging 3” in the waves for hours on end. Then he teaches Kalini how to surf, while in actuality teaching all of the readers the basic simplicity of the sport. So into the ocean they both go, paddling over the crests of the waves, adorning the latest in Hawaiian swimwear and enjoying life. One day they meet a tourist mouse and a bit of an adventure begins with Kimo risking his life to recover a necklace dropped by Kalini. Will he be able to surf through the blowhole? Readers will have to hold their breath as the suspenseful climax of the book reveals just what determination and skill can be accomplished.
This book is a total work of literary cleverness and watercolor art, all mastered by the creative mind of Jimbo Harris. As readers learn after the end of the story, Harris has found one of his niches in life with the writing of illustrated children’s books, no doubt somewhat inspired by his own two young daughters. The galley text is superimposed with a palm tree border, while the paintings capture just enough of the details needed for young minds to reinforce the story creating a visual storyboard layout. The book is the perfect length, not too long but still able to be read at bedtime to lull the readers into a dreamland filled with fanciful mouse-people enjoying a Hawaiian lifestyle as if on a vacation. It makes you want to grab your woody, slap on suntan oil, go out and enjoy the ocean – then come back for a SPAM sandwich and a pineapple-coconut drink. Yum, this is a delicious book, Aloha.
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