Lydia and the Island Kingdom: A Story Based on the Real Life of Princess Liliuokalani of Hawaii

by Joan Holub, Nonna Aleshina (Illustrator)

Young Princess Lydia has always loved her Hawaiian customs. But as American influences begin to take over, she realizes that her family's old ways are disappearing. She wants to help -- but how? Lydia commits the grand old stories of her culture to paper so they will always be remembered. And she realizes the comfort they bring in a time of change.

Genres: Picture Books, History, Nonfiction, Childrens

48 pages, Paperback

First published December 26, 2007

About the author

NY Times bestselling children's book author:
GODDESS GIRLS series + HEROES IN TRAINING series (w Suzanne Williams); THIS LITTLE TRAILBLAZER a Girl Power Primer; ZERO THE HERO; I AM THE SHARK. Lucky to be doing what I love!

Reviews

[Shelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love these easy to read works of historical fiction! They are perfect for facilitating not only a love of reading, but also history by making the characters seem more real and relatable. This tale of a young Princess Liliuokalani of Hawaii gives children a glimpse into what the kingdom of Hawaii was feeling when they were overthrown by the British in 1843, then later when they briefly regained there independence.

[Briana · Rating 2 out of 5]

While it stayed true to the spirit of young kanaka, and the idea of basic aloha, the illustration wasn't nearly as authentic as I hoped.

[Dolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although this story isn't purely non-fiction, it is based on the real life of Princess Liliukalani of Hawaii. It is an interesting account of her life, focusing on her schoolage years, and it gives a short account of Hawaii's loss of independence as a sovereign nation. It shows how Liliukalani, in her own way, fought to maintain the culture, stories, and traditions of Hawaii from being lost forever through her songs and by writing down the ancient Hawaiian chants.

My pet peeve: It has a fairly strong an anti-England/anti-US slant for taking over Hawaii (both literally and culturally) at various times in history. It does acknowledge the fact that Hawaii was too small to ever remain truly independent, especially with its strategic location and given the rampant colonialization around the world at that time.

[Sydney · Rating 4 out of 5]

its about Lydia's father said there was going to do a luau and Lydia doesn't know what to get him but she finally figured out what to get him she gave him the old Hawaiian songs for a present.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book for a 2nd or 3rd grade level reader teaching a small and very simply version of Hawaii history. My three old son liked listening to the story, but almost to wordy for him, =).