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Wili Wai Kula and the Three Mongooses by Donivee M. Laird
In a Hawai'i version of Goldilocks a pidgin-speaking mongoose family gets a surprise visit from a bold little blonde named Wili Wai Kula.
Hardcover
First published October 1, 1983
8 people want to read
About the author
Donivee Martin Laird
9 books3 followers[Author also goes by the name Donivee Laird.]
Donivee Martin Laird grew up in Hawaii, the daughter of a sugar plantation manager, where she lived on each of Hawaii’s major islands. She also lived for several years in Puerto Rico. She is married, the mother of two and grandmother of one.
Donivee was an elementary school teacher in Hawaii for 25 years. She began writing children's stories in 1980 to supply the literature component of a unit on Hawaiʻi she was teaching to preschoolers.
In 1981 Laird and illustrator Carol (Jossem) Johnson formed their own publishing company, Barnaby Books, and launched their book, The Three Little Hawaiian Pigs and the Magic Shark. Five more books followed. Today, over 200, 000 copies of the titles are in print.
Laird’s first three stories have been adapted into a musical for children. The show, entitled Talking Story has been performed numerous times in Hawaii.
In 2004 Barnaby Books sold the rights to their books to the Bess Press. Laird’s most recent book, The Magic Shark Learns to Cook, was published by the Bess Press in 2004.
Donivee Martin Laird grew up in Hawaii, the daughter of a sugar plantation manager, where she lived on each of Hawaii’s major islands. She also lived for several years in Puerto Rico. She is married, the mother of two and grandmother of one.
Donivee was an elementary school teacher in Hawaii for 25 years. She began writing children's stories in 1980 to supply the literature component of a unit on Hawaiʻi she was teaching to preschoolers.
In 1981 Laird and illustrator Carol (Jossem) Johnson formed their own publishing company, Barnaby Books, and launched their book, The Three Little Hawaiian Pigs and the Magic Shark. Five more books followed. Today, over 200, 000 copies of the titles are in print.
Laird’s first three stories have been adapted into a musical for children. The show, entitled Talking Story has been performed numerous times in Hawaii.
In 2004 Barnaby Books sold the rights to their books to the Bess Press. Laird’s most recent book, The Magic Shark Learns to Cook, was published by the Bess Press in 2004.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
September 20, 2023
A fave from youth and my baby liked it too! I’m going to need to work on my mongoose voices 😄
December 2, 2019
Traditional literature
2nd-6th grade
I like the Hawaiian twist on this classic story. I enjoyed the illustrations and the detail on some of the pages. I like how this book also contains a glossary in the back explaining some of the Hawaiian words.
2nd-6th grade
I like the Hawaiian twist on this classic story. I enjoyed the illustrations and the detail on some of the pages. I like how this book also contains a glossary in the back explaining some of the Hawaiian words.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews