In this post, we feature debut author and filmmaker Kaylin Melia George and illustrator Mae Waite. You can hear them speak about their new picture book, Aloha Everything, and try their “invitation to imagine” activities. You’ll also find other resources to explore. Thanks for joining us, and let us know what you think in the comments below!
Aloha Everything
- Written by Kaylin Melia George and illustrated by Mae Waite
- Published by Red Comet Press
- Release date: April 24, 2024
Since the day that Ano was born, her heart has been connected to her island home. But this adventurous child has a lot to learn! When Ano begins to dance hula — a storytelling dance form that carries the knowledge, history, and folklore of the Hawaiian people — she comes to understand the true meaning of aloha. Written in lyrical rhyming poetry, the text artfully blends 25 Hawaiian words into the English prose. Vibrant paintings lushly filled with the flora and fauna of the Hawaiian islands illustrate this beautiful introduction to land, the people, and rich culture of Hawai’i.
Explore Aloha Everything
Listen to Kaylin Melia George and Mae Waite talking with TeachingBooks about creating Aloha Everything. You can click the player below or experience the recording on TeachingBooks, where you can read along as you listen, and also translate the text to another language.
- Listen to author Kaylin Melia George pronounce her name.
- Listen to illustrator Mae Waite pronounce her name.
- Sample an e-book of Aloha Everything on Overdrive.
- Explore TeachingBooks’ collection of activities and resources for Aloha Everything.
Invitation to Imagine
TeachingBooks asks each author or illustrator on our Virtual Book Tour to share a writing prompt, a drawing exercise, or just an interesting question to spark curiosity and creativity. Enjoy the following activities contributed by Kaylin Melia George and Mae Waite.
Imagination Activity with Kaylin Melia George
Aloha Everything is a story about a young girl who embarks on a journey to discover a newfound love for her home. Write a letter to a friend sharing interesting and special things about the place where YOU live! Don’t forget to describe the sights, sounds, and feelings of your memories of home. Tell your friend what makes your home unique and how you take care of your home. Lastly, tell your friend about the people who make you feel at home.
Imagination Activity with Mae Waite
A great activity, which I started doing at a very young age and still practice today, is creating a scene or characters out of random shapes. It’s a very simple exercise that will almost always guarantee a chuckle at the end. Start by taking any color paint, pencil, pen, or marker of your choice and create random organic shapes on a piece of paper. You can arrange them however you like. Next, use a pen or pencil to try to construct a scene or shape within your color blob. You will be amazed at the creative approaches you will come up with. I do this when I need to step away from a project and loosen up my brain.
Finish This Sentence . . . with Kaylin Melia George and Mae Waite
As part of our Virtual Book Tour, TeachingBooks asks authors and illustrators to complete short sentence prompts. Enjoy Kaylin Melia George and Mae Waite’s responses.
“I knew I would be a writer (or illustrator) when…”
When I was a little girl, I was enchanted by my mother’s beautiful bedtime stories about the Hawaiian Islands. My mother was carrying on the tradition of passing down our stories, which is a tradition that has spanned many generations in my family. I believe that this was the seed that made me want to become a storyteller! I didn’t know that I would be an author, but I knew that I wanted to tell beautiful, meaningful stories that people could share with others for a long time. —Kaylin Melia George
I knew I was going to be an artist from a young age. It felt very right to be creating. I didn’t think I would be an illustrator until I graduated with my BA in Studio Art. —Mae Waite
“While working on this project, I was surprised to learn…”
Before I began writing Aloha Everything, I set aside several years for research! Although my goal was to learn more about the Hawaiian islands themselves, I was astonished by how much I ended up discovering about myself! Crafting this book afforded me the incredible opportunity to engage in meaningful conversations with family members, to learn more about my heritage, and to unearth the story within me that I have always wanted to tell. I’ll be forever grateful for this incredible experience. —Kaylin Melia George
“I hope that my book may encourage readers to think about…”
I hope that Aloha Everything can help young readers find beauty in their origins. —Mae Waite
“Where I work is…”
I’m a writer and a filmmaker, so my “workstation” is always changing. Some days, I work at a desk. Some days, I work outside. Some days, I work on a film stage! Variety is the spice of life! —Kaylin Melia George
I work in a small studio space at home. I love it because I can be with my puppy. —Mae Waite
Thank you!
To wrap up this Virtual Book Tour, we thank Kaylin Melia George and Mae Waite for signing a book for all of us.
More Connections to Kaylin Melia George, Mae Waite, and Aloha Everything
- Discover books like Aloha Everything on TeachingBooks.
- Red Comet’s page about Aloha Everything, written by Kaylin Melia George and illustrated by Mae Waite.
- Buy Aloha Everything, written by Kaylin Melia George and illustrated by Mae Waite.
All text and images are courtesy of Kaylin Melia George, Mae Waite, and Red Comet Press and may not be used without expressed written consent.
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