"Winter is for Whales: A Book of Hawaiian Seasons" by Ron Hirschi, Yuko Green illustrator; Island Heritage, ages 6-10

Author Ron Hirschi draws on his experience as a fisheries biologist, writer and teacher to create a balanced blend of fact and fun in this picture book that explores Hawaiian seasons.

The book's cover, a fanciful die-cut whale illustration with a magnetic closure, hints at a number of lift-a-flap inserts on the pages that follow. The wet winter season and the dry summer months are observed through changes in nature, from monster-sized winter waves to the annual departure of the kolea birds.

The writing has just as much kid-friendly appeal as the book's design. Starting with the beginning of winter and the arrival of our humpback whales, Hirschi writes:

Big Island artist Yuko Green's watercolor and paper collage illustrations are as varied and engaging as the text.