Mama Wallaby, as
interpreted by portraitist Wayne Takazono
BOOK OVERVIEW
Within a classic fairytale treatment, this six-chapter, bilingual
tale of Hawai`i bridges picture and young adult books, with an
English-Spanish package including storybook, coloring book and audio
DVD. The Illustrated Glossary, Study Guide and Hawai`i Resources
sections serve as learning tools as a child's life experience and
educative accomplishments expand. Visually, the project offers:
sepia colored ink on patterned paper, suggesting Hawaiian kappa
cloth; a classic, yet clear font, like Baskerville Old Face;
coffee-table-book quality art (see samples of Wayne Takazono*) that
evokes rustling island breezes and tropical light filtered through
altostratus clouds and forest branches. Concept, design and
projected marketing draw on Timothy Iokepa Littlejohn's experience
as an Hawai`i State Library branch manager, plus Jeanne
Burrows-Johnson’s graduate studies in world history and work in
marketing and public relations. Targeted markets include: book, zoo,
museum and on-line stores; libraries, schools and home schooling
programs; and, Hawaiian and Australian tourist retail outlets.
BOOK SYNOPSIS
Featuring the internationally appealing beauty of Hawai`i, this
seven-chapter book targets parents of toddlers as well as
nine-year-old English and Spanish readers. Raised by her widowed
father and his sister, Kahala Souza, a multi-racial girl, enjoys the
flora and fauna surrounding her old plantation cottage on Maui.
Gifted with a trip aboard the ocean liner captained by her father,
Kahala envisions shopping and an `ukulele lesson with a noted
Honolulu musician. Instead, she loses her way and embarks on an
adventure in the Ko`olau mountains above Honolulu, the seaside
capital of Hawai`i. Lost in the beauty of a sun-speckled forest, she
falls asleep below a koa tree near a stream. Startled awake by a
family of wallabies, Kahala accepts an invitation to their home.
Beyond a hillside pond, they enter a cave hidden by a waterfall.
Snacks of fruit and malasadas are followed by classic Island songs
and Kahala playing her `ukulele. After sharing stories of the
arrival of wallabies in Hawai`i, Mama Wallaby calls for a nap before
helping Kahala return to the city. While Kahala ventures far from
the shore, her father realizes her absence and sets out to find her.
After alerting the authorities, and following clues offered by wharf
vendors, the Captain chances on his daughter’s flip-flop sandal in
the hand of a bus driver, and embarks on his own trip into the
Ko`olau Mountains. Finding Kahala’s second sandal, he enters the
forest. After much searching, he finds her purple orchid, but
without a further lead, he sinks in exhaustion beneath the koa tree.
Rounding the tree on their way down to the bus stop, the wallabies
and Kahala discover the Captain, who is delighted to be reunited
with his wandering daughter.
BOOK JACKET
The cover can utilize a centerfold picture of waterfall, pond and
Koa tree beneath the Ko`olau Mountains with four wallabies meeting
Kahala Souza, set off by four decorative corner pieces.
INSIDE BOOK JACKET
A sepia outlined map of
the Hawaiian Islands rests on parchment background Labeled with
calligraphic lettering, mountains and cities can be highlighted.
Images from the Illustrated Glossary could include a ship at Aloha
Tower, bus on a highway, and wallabies on the Ko`olau Mountain
ridge. The entire page can be framed with a repetition of the
cover's decorative pieces.
CHAPTER & PAGE
EMBELLISHMENTS
Page and chapter
embellishments enhance the visual strength and aid memorization of
images of Hawaiian flora and fauna. Each chapter could feature an
image from the story, such as the purple orchid from which the
Captain recognizes the path taken by his daughter Kahala. Here a
Nēnē, State Bird of Hawai’i, is placed between lei strands of maile;
following are examples of artistic lines.
ILLUSTRATED LETTERS
We propose beginning each chapter with a capital illustrated with
local flora, which we have chosen from plants popular in the Islands
today, although an artist might choose to select from those that are
native or endemic to Hawai`i.
ILLUSTRATED GLOSSARY
After summary of Hawaiian grammar, sepia drawings will illustrate
Hawaiian words and Island vocabulary to provide reinforcement of the
Hawaiian language and story elements. The image of an Hawaiian
plantation cottage was designed by Wayne Takazono.
A ghost writer's skills can bring your vision into reality!