Punky Aloha: A Beautiful Polynesian Picture Book About Friendship and Bravery for Children

by Shar Tuiasoa

Meet Punky Aloha: a girl who uses the power of saying "aloha" to experience exciting and unexpected adventures!

Punky loves to do a lot of things—except meeting new friends. She doesn’t feel brave enough.

So when her grandmother asks her to go out and grab butter for her famous banana bread, Punky hesitates. But with the help of her grandmother’s magical sunglasses, and with a lot of aloha in her heart, Punky sets off on a BIG adventure for the very first time.

Will she be able to get the butter for grandma

Punky Aloha is a Polynesian girl who carries her culture in her heart and in everything she does. Kids will love to follow this fun character all over the island of O’ahu.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Aapi, Food, Storytime, Family, Friendship

32 pages, Hardcover

First published June 7, 2022

About the author

Shar Tuiasoa is a freelance illustrator based in Kailua, Oahu. Her illustration studio is Punky Aloha Studio.

After studying Fine Art at her local community college for 6 years, Shar moved to California to earn her BFA in Illustration. She moved back to Hawaii shortly after and started Punky Aloha Studio in the summer of 2018.

Punky Aloha Studio houses various branches of illustration work, ranging from Murals, Freelance and Client work, Product Sales, Fine Art, and Licensing.

Shar has worked as a freelance illustrator with multiple editorial clients on Oahu including Honolulu Magazine, Hawaii Magazine, and Hawaii Business Magazine. She has also created work for local organizations and businesses like Liliuokalani Trust, Honolulu Museum of Art, and Foodland.

She has also created artwork for big companies like Apple, Facebook, Disney, Pixar, AT&T, Sephora, Benefit Cosmetics, and The New York Times and is currently working on her first of two picture books as an author and illustrator for Harper Kids, an imprint of Harper Collins.

When she is not creating illustrations for books, magazines, and product packaging, Shar also sells a wide range of art prints and products in her online shop, in retailers throughout Hawai’i, Japan, and in the Mainland of the US.

Reviews

[Whitney · Rating 5 out of 5]

A SUPER cute and well-illustrated book about a Native Hawaiian girl named Punky who is shy, but uses magic sunglasses to "share her aloha" with others (which includes being kind, generous, and helpful). I think this will help a lot of kids who are similarly shy to come out of their shells while also being good representation. I loved the relationship she had with her grandmother, as well. I would highly recommend this to public or elementary school libraries, as well as for personal collections.

[cat · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is probably by far my favorite picture book that I've read this year! The artwork style is what my dreams are made of, the story is so sweet and has a great morale, and I feel like I can really just smell the vibes of the book.

[Ashley (omgitsyelhsa) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would like some banana bread please

[Nessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

For Punky being brave starts with her grandma's special fresh baked banana bread. Punky goes on a brave adventure using her grandma's special brave sunglasses. Will Punky be brave enough to speak to new friends and get the butter her grandma needs to make fresh banana bread?

[Ricki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Charming book about being brave!

[Kacey Lundgren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Found this book at the library. I really enjoyed it, the story and the art. I’ve been trying to find more Hawaiian books and this one is great! My three year old was less enthused, but I keep trying!

[Michele Knott · Rating 4 out of 5]

A young girl needs some help to find her courage to go out and have a little adventure. Little does she know, that friendship awaits her while on her adventure.

[Everett Earles · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the pictures in this book! I’ve been making lots of new baby friends recently like Punky.

[Lealyn De Leon · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVE PUNKY ALOHA! PUNKY ALOHA STAN! Need to read all of Shar’s books asap.

[Kelly Boggs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very sweet. Lessons on conquering shyness. Being helpful. Giving. And kind. Very sweet relationship with grandma.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

*4.25

[Henry O’Shea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Colorful illustrations and a cute story help hold attention. We especially enjoyed the pig and bee.

[Christine Joy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love love love Punky Aloha's art!! It makes me so happy to see her art on so many products around the island. And this story was so cute!!<3

[Rachel Buckley]

Punky Aloha became a brave adventurer thanks to a loaf of fresh banana bread, but she wasn’t always this fearless. When her grandmother runs out of butter, a key ingredient for her banana bread recipe, she sends Punky out to get it. Punky, shy and avoidant of people, takes her grandmother’s “brave glasses” with her so that she can more easily share her aloha: “Be helpful. Be giving. Be brave.” With her glasses in tow, Punky sets out for her first big adventure, making new friends, sharing her aloha, and learning that people are not so bad.

This is a vibrant story with vibrant illustrations to match. Pages are filled with color, and Punky’s spirit is captured perfectly, down to the brave glasses that take up her entire face. Children will love these bright colors, and many will resonate with Punky’s original shyness, aspiring to become a brave adventurer like her and face their own fears. The simple premise of buying butter for banana bread is a fun and easy way for children to understand this larger lesson, and the fun adventures Punky goes on will keep them laughing and engaged. This story is a great representation of Polynesian culture as well, with the author using these illustrations to represent the vitality and vibrancy of her home. Punky Aloha is just as fun as it is inspiring, and it will make a great addition to any library collection.

[Margaret Boling · Rating 5 out of 5]

9/15/24 ~ I changed my rating from 4* to 5* after reading this will primary students. I've had so many holds requests for this book.

5/4/2024 ~ Sometimes we all need a little help to be brave.

11/26/2022 ~ Find your bravery - sometimes it takes seeing the world through new lenses. Vivid, graphic illustrations complement Punky Aloha's adventure and quest for butter. I also love the mantra for aloha: Be helpful, Be giving, Be brave.

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Punky loves to do a lot of things—except meeting new friends becausem she doesn’t feel brave enough. When her grandmother asks her to go out and get butter for her famous banana bread, Punky hesitates. Her grandmother give her magical sunglasses to help Punky as she sets off on her first big adventure. A warm intergnerational story illustrated in a bold, lush pallette of colors.

[Kristi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bought this for a friend's new baby. As someone who LOVES my husband's banana bread, I was immediately drawn to the plot. The illustrations were so colorful and beautiful and I just love the story/lessons taught. I also love that the book was written by a native Hawaiian. I might be putting this on the list of forever buys for new babies...besides Dragons Love Tacos.

[Regan Mayer · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Punky Aloha” by Shar Tuiasoa is a picture book that combines the Hawaiian culture with an undiscussed personality trait in most books about kindness. The main character in this book is Punky, a young, shy Hawaiian girl who lives with her grandma on the island. She is given a special tool by her grandma, which she uses to be brave and carry out acts of kindness towards other characters she comes across while on her errand. In many picture books about kindness, the protagonist tends to be outgoing, brave, and fearless. But in this story, Punky is honest about her shyness and how it can hold her back. Many young children are shy and can be afraid to speak up or try new things, so “Punky Aloha” represents not only the Hawaiian culture but also communicates the message that shy children all have the ability to overcome their shyness and do brave things. One of the takeaways a reader can take from this book is an idea discussed in the article “Mirrors, Windows, and Sliding Glass Doors” by Rudine Sims Bishop. Sims Bishop states “Literature transforms human experience and reflects it back to us, and in that reflection we can see our own lives and experiences as part of the larger human experience” (Sims Bishop, 1990). This book can act as a mirror for two groups of children: children part of the Hawaiian culture and shy children. The representation of these two groups in this book tells these children that they are not alone in their experiences.

[Maiss Lukyana · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Punky Aloha” is a perfect book for children who are in 1st to 2nd grade. It's a fiction book that shows topics like culture, self-esteem, and family. These are some things kids in those grades will enjoy and help them stay interested in the material.

It is especially inspiring to young girls. This is a beautiful story of this young girl facing her fears of being shy. It all started when her grandma ran out of an ingredient to make her banana bread. Her grandma gives her these magical glasses to wear on her adventure to get butter for the banana bread. These glasses help her stay confident. Her grandma reminds her to always share her aloha by "be helpful, be giving, and be brave to every person. She goes through different adventures and helps the pig, and the bees, and makes a friend. She struggled at making friends but made one when she broke the glasses and realized she didn't need the glasses to be confident. It’s also great due to its representation of young children who face different challenges.

I would choose this book for my classroom library since representation matters and to always carry your culture in your heart. It is an impactful story of how important it is to appreciate everything you have. This book also gives many different messages, but the ones I truly love are how important family is. It also shows to always be proud of yourself for trying to be brave.

[Our Weekend Is Booked · Rating 5 out of 5]

While they say never judge a book by its cover, I did exactly that while looking at Punky Aloha's cover. The cute little girl with giant sunglasses caught my attention and I wanted to learn more.

Punky Aloha and her Grandma are making banana bread when they realize they are missing butter, an essential ingredient. Grandma asks Punky to go to the store to purchase it. Punky feels nervous and shy, but Grandma has the perfect solution. Using her magic sunglasses, Punky can become brave. The brave Punky goes to the store and meets some new friends along the way. When Punky crashes into a young boy her sunglasses break and Punky realizes she doesn't need them to be brave.

The book emphasizes courage and how facing your fears can be scary, but worth the effort. This book is beautifully illustrated with colorful pictures that make the story come to life.

Punky Aloha is a wonderful addition to any library, but I am certain that parents of shy kids will find it especially inspiring.







This review first appeared on YA Book Central https://www.yabookscentral.com/punky-...

[Sue H · Rating 3 out of 5]

A shy girl (Punky) tells the story of the day that she became brave --it all started with a solo trip to the market for a necessary ingredient for her Grandma's banana bread.
The colors in this book are so vibrant --lots of bright oranges, yellows and greens that give the story a happy feeling. I enjoyed the general message that we learn to be brave by doing things that we might find a bit uncomfortable and that no matter who we are we can often help someone else.
The story has an interconnectedness that I an also appreciate (with what she receives for helping one animal, she can help the next person/animal that she comes in contact with). Hoever, I found the speed in which the story ended to be a bit quick, like it was missing something, although I'm not sure what.
Overall, it's a cute book about learning to be brave with representation of Polynesian culture that we do not typically see and cute illustrations (extra star for those points).

[Alyssa Haton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Punky Aloha is about a young girl named Punky who was extremely shy and had a hard time making friends. She had to go on a scary adventure to get butter for her grandmother and to help with her shyness her grandmother gave her these "brave glasses" that will make Punky feel brave whenever she starts to get nervous or shy. The glasses help bring Punky and grandma's special way of saying hello or "Aloha" and that is "be helpful, be giving, be brave". On the way to get butter Punky communicates with all sorts of animals she comes across and learns why it is so important to be brave and kind. It is when she sees a friend get hurt that she uses her brave powers to heal him and help him up. This story is all about being brave, having courage, and helping others. I would include this in my kindergarten classroom library as it can serve as a reminder to my younger ones to never be afraid of meeting new people.

[Roben · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a story about finding your brave! Punky Aloha tells us up front that she used to be afraid - but going on an adventure one day helped her find her brave. It also helped her practice her aloha - being helpful, giving, and brave. And it all started with banana bread! Punky's grandma was baking her delicious bread when she suddenly realized she was out of butter. And Punky needed to go down to the corner market to get some. But Punky was afraid. Grandma gave Punky her magical brave glasses to help her out on her adventure. Punky is still afraid but the glasses do help her be brave. And helpful. And kind.
This was a sweet story about overcoming the fear and discomfort of encountering new situations. Punky helps a pig family, a sweet bee, and a boy named Kai. And also finds out that she can be brave.
Be sure to have some fresh banana bread on hand!

[Charlotte · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mini Aloha: Punky goes on an adventure to make new friends and get some butter. I liked that she lived in Hawai’i like we do! That’s pretty crazy. The pictures were very cute, the piggy my favorite. It looked just like home!

Mama Aloha: Punky Aloha felt extra special because it’s been nearly 2 months since we’ve been home and it was just the little sunshine we needed to ease the homesick.
Punky must be brave and trek to Kimo’s on her own to get butter for grandma’s banana bread. On her way she must show her aloha in various encounters by being helpful, giving, and being brave. The illustrations are bright and tropical, giving us just the feel of Oahu. The little nods to the culture and environment like bananas grown in your own backyard, flower lei, mango, and the tropical scenery was perfect.

[Patricia N. McLaughlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this intergenerational story, a grandmother encourages her shy granddaughter to gather her courage and walk to the village store by herself. Along the way, she runs into opportunities to practice “aloha” by being helpful, giving, and brave. Unfortunately, the talking pig and bee present a problematic anthropomorphic bias in the story, ascribing humanlike characteristics—thoughts, emotions, agency—to things that do not possess them. Punky is one cute kid, though, and the unique illustrations emphasize what a beautiful world we live in when we practice loving kindness and generosity with our neighbors. A brief introduction to Hawaii, the cultural tradition of aloha, and Grandmother’s banana bread recipe would have been welcome additions in the end pages.

[Teresa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Punky is a shy kid that has trouble making friends. One day, while making banana bread with her grandma, they realize they are out of butter. Grandma sends Punky to the local store for fresh butter, but before she leaves gives her magic sunglasses to help Punky be brave. Along the way she meets several animals that need her help, and eventually a little boy. She ends up helping him, and he just so happens to be the shop owner's son! Punky learns that being brave comes from inside, with a little boost from her grandma's shades. The illustrations are very cute and vibrant, but would be better suited for one-on-one reading rather than a group storytime. Since the illustrations flow, it could be harder for littles to determine what is actually happening in the picture.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would love to try sharing this in storytime and see how it does. Sometimes we need help with our bravery. Punky Aloha hasn't always been brave. Before she was a brave adventurer, she needed help. Fortunately, Punky Aloha has a grandma who believes in her; Grandma also has a pair of magical brave glasses!

Grandma reminds Punky, "Be helpful. Be giving. Be brave. This is how we share our aloha." Punky practices this as she travels to the corner store on an errand for Grandma. Along the way, Punky makes new friends and discovers what it means to be brave. Warm, vivid illustrations draw readers in while the story sweetly shows the true meaning of aloha.

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

2-4 sentences per page. Cute animated-style illustrations. A lot of green, orange, yellow, and brown color scheme. It's a story of a shy, afraid girl named Punky who helps her best friend, her grandma, get butter for her grandma's banana bread. Punky is afraid to go to the store for butter by herself, but her grandma gives her some magical glasses and reminds her to share her aloha on the trip. Punky sets off on this adventure, and ends up making friends along the way. She learns that she can be brave and accomplish things even when she is afraid, and that even though making friends can be hard, it is fun and good!

[Selena Ayala · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Punky Aloha" is about a shy Polynesian girl named Punky. Punky's grandma has her go run an errand and Punky makes sure she uses her magical sunglasses because they give her the courage to face the world. On her journey, she meets new people and learns that her bravery is within her. This book celebrates Polynesian culture while showing themes of building confidence, spreading kindness, and how to overcome your shyness. I would have this book in my library because I really enjoyed how it promotes cultural representation. I would read this book to kindergarteners or first graders.

[Kassandra Pacheco · Rating 5 out of 5]

Punky Aloha! A young little girl who is still learning about her culture, finds herself a bit still shy to make friends. Her grandmother gives her cool sunglasses to wear, now she feels confident to talk to people with the glasses. The intended audience of this book is young Hawaii children who are still learning about their culture. Or this is a great book for world day, to learn about Hawaii traditions! The theme of this book is family, empathy and bravery. I chose this book because it represents culture and diversity.