Snow Angel, Sand Angel

When tan-skinned Claire, who lives on Hawai’i, is assigned winter as the subject of a school diorama, she realizes she’s “never even seen real snow!” When her father suggests taking her to Mauna Kea, “the tallest mountain in the world, if you measure from seafloor to summit,” Claire is excited to witness snow for the first time—only to be disappointed by the winter gear, sled, and snowman her family provides. On New Year’s Eve, however, Claire soon realizes the beauty of the land around her—and just how magnificent what it provides can be. Lukashevsky’s distinctive digital illustrations, rendered in a vibrant color palette, punctuate Yamanaka’s lush, sensory descriptions, threaded with informational facts and Native Hawaiian culture, in this poignant story of yearning for travel and appreciation for home by a Hawai’i-born team. Back matter includes an author’s note on climate change and Indigenous stewardship, as well as a glossary and note from the publisher. Ages 4–8. (Oct.)