Hawaii asks a lot of a children’s book. It is a vacation with shave ice and honu on the sand, a home where poi still starts as taro in a flooded patch, a chain of islands the volcanoes are visibly still building, a kingdom that had a queen and then didn’t, and the place where one December morning pulled the United States into a war. The books worth keeping treat the islands as a setting with rules—ocean, weather, language, food—rather than a backdrop with palm trees.
Drawing on Bookroo’s collection of 74 Hawaii books, our editors chose read-alouds rooted in island family life, legends retold by Hawaiian storytellers, true stories from Maui’s plantation camps and Waikīkī’s shoreline, and novels that put young readers inside December 7, 1941. Start with our 14 favorites, then browse by age—board books for the youngest travelers, picture books for the flight over, and chapter books and middle grade for readers ready for history, mythology, and a mystery or two.
A cumulative rhyme follows taro from the flooded patch to the poi at the center of a family luau.
A girl named Ano learns her islands—their mountains, birds, and stories—through hula.
A shy girl crosses her Oʻahu neighborhood on a butter errand, armed with her grandmother’s sunglasses.
Nanaue, born to a woman and the shark king, grows up caught between the village and the sea.
Marisa makes her first dumplings for a New Year’s party of Korean, Japanese, Chinese, and Hawaiian relatives.
A Maui science teacher trains plantation kids in irrigation ditches and sends them to the Olympics.
Princess Kaʻiulani, heir to the Hawaiian throne, sails to Washington to argue for her kingdom.
Jack and Annie land in an old Hawaiian village, learn to surf, and feel the ground begin to shake.
Eleven-year-old Danny is at his favorite beach when the planes come in low over Oʻahu.
Anna brushes off her grandmother’s stories until she insults Pele and a giant hawk carries her best friend away.
Two friends are out on their bikes above Pearl Harbor when the first wave comes over the mountains.
Short poems name the sailors of the Arizona and the children of Hiroshima, one life at a time.
After the attack, Tomi’s Japanese American family in Honolulu becomes suspect overnight.
Geckos, beaches, reefs, and first island words for babies and toddlers ages 0–3.
Explore Hawaii's wonders with your toddler through vibrant illustrations and soothing bedtime stories.
Geckos explore opposites in a playful Hawaiian adventure.
A lonely girl and a chaotic alien discover the true meaning of family amidst an alien invasion.
Luaus and legends, hula and honu, island families, and first tours of the islands for ages 3–8.
Sparky's magic bone takes him to Hawaii. Can he save a friend and return home?
Explore the timeless bond between grandmother and grandchild in vibrant Hawaii.
An artist defies expectations on a Hawaiian journey. Will she paint what she's told?
A frog's Hawaiian adventure goes hilariously awry.
A clever trickster escapes trouble using his shape-shifting skills.
Journey from childhood to presidency, uncovering a leader's legacy.
A musubi man escapes and leads a wild chase.
Discover Hawaii's unique animals through a rhythmic adventure.
Discover Hawaii's top ten must-see sites and hidden gems.
A brave hero battles a monstrous lizard to protect Hawaii's forests.
A tsunami's legacy reveals a hidden family story and a grandfather's secret sorrow.
Explore Hawaii's wonders through an alphabet journey, uncovering its rich culture and natural beauty.
Pearl Harbor history, Pele and the fire goddess, surf, sleuthing, and island-set novels for independent readers ages 6–11.
Calvin juggles school chaos and a new babysitter invading his space.
A girl faces her fears to uncover a forest's secrets and mend friendships.
A girl and her dog face war's chaos, striving to keep their family together.
A class trip to Hawaii turns explosive when a volcano erupts.
A blind boy enters a million-dollar golf tournament. Can he and his quirky neighbor win?
A mouse editor must solve a mystery involving a stolen necklace and a surfing competition in Hawaii.
A hula festival on a volcano's edge. Can they warn everyone in time?
A tragic accident shatters Taylor's world. Can she rebuild her life from the pieces left behind?
A young girl goes on a trip to Hawaii with her family and learns about the island's culture and wildlife.
Siblings dive deep to uncover sabotage threatening a groundbreaking energy project.
A young girl faces war's chaos and discovers unexpected strength.
In wartime Hawaii, a girl finds hope and inspiration through hula dancing.
