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Maya & Filippo Show Aloha: Free Books for Kids Ages 4-8

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Take Your Children on an Adventure!"An engaging book to entertain and educate young readers about the Hawaiian lifestyle and culture." - 5 stars from Readers' FavoriteThis entertaining and educational picture book features two little travelers - Maya and Filippo - who love to explore the world.

˃˃˃ Would you like your children to learn about different countries and cultures in a fun way?Then the "Maya & Filippo Adventure and Education for Kids" Series will be perfect for you and your early readers.

˃˃˃ Would you like your children to understand the meaning of "aloha", "hula", "lei" and "ukulele"? Then let Maya & Filippo show them around Hawaii and tell them about the islands' culture and geography.

˃˃˃ Would you like to check if your beginner readers are paying attention? Then use the quiz at the end of the book!

Scroll up and grab your copy now!

39 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 7, 2015

366 people are currently reading
839 people want to read

About the author

Alinka Rutkowska

62 books289 followers
Hi, I'm Alinka Rutkowska and I'm an award-winning and best-selling author and coach.



I've been featured on Fox Business Network, Examiner, She Knows, She Writes, Blog Talk Radio, The Writer’s Life and many more.

I'm giving away presents!

READERS: Go to http://alinkarutkowska.com and get one of my children's books for free!

AUTHORS: Go to http://alinkarutkowska.com/authors-home/ and get my ebook "200 Book Marketing Tips" for free!

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5 stars
359 (44%)
4 stars
133 (16%)
3 stars
115 (14%)
2 stars
83 (10%)
1 star
113 (14%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
Profile Image for Sheila.
Author 85 books190 followers
March 18, 2015
This fun tale starts with a brief, enticing question: just where are Maya, Filippo and their mother going on their wonderful cruise ship? The clues are sensible, and the reward for answering correctly is a happy cheer and a cheerful book, filled with bright colors, simple text, and plenty of interesting tidbits of Hawaiian information, including the full meaning of Aloha.

Soon the two children are playing on a beach, appreciating everything around them in a spirit of Aloha. And soon young readers can demonstrate what they’ve learned by answering quiz questions based on the tale. It’s all smoothly and intelligently done, illustrated with verve, style and color, and it makes a very pleasant read to share.

At the end of the book, a collection of illustrations advertises others in the series; this looks like a great way to introduce young children to the world beyond their hometown.

Disclosure: I heard about this book from the author and found it when it was free. And I’m offering my honest review.
Profile Image for Michelle Stanley.
279 reviews13 followers
March 21, 2015
Maya and Filippo Show Aloha by Alinka Rutkowska is an educational book for children ages 4-8. Maya and her brother Filippo often sail the seas with their parents on a ship called the Fun Princess. They like visiting new countries and learning about the different cultures. This sailing trip takes the family to Hawaii, more specifically, Oahu. The children’s mother explains that the word Aloha means hello when they see people. They go to the beach, participate in a hula dance and play the ukulele. A nice man named Serge explains the word “Aloha” is more meaningful than they assume. Aloha is a way of life so is considered the “Spirit of Aloha.” When people are happy in their home, it is a sense of feeling Aloha. When you are happy in your life, then you are true to Aloha. The spirit of Aloha shows in the happiness of persons who are enjoying themselves. Maya and Filippo learn many fun facts on their exciting trip and wonder where the Fun Princess will take them next.

Maya and Filippo Show Aloha is very engaging and interesting. I like the beginning of the story, which starts with a game that has the siblings guessing where they are going, and think the question section at the back of the book is a great way to help children remember what they have learned from reading. The book cover and illustrations are colourful and nicely sketched to complement the activities in the story. Alinka Rutkowska has written another lovely book in her children’s series that is sure to delight young readers once again.
Profile Image for Diane Robinson.
Author 6 books425 followers
June 27, 2015
This is a great book to introduce kids to the history and geography of Hawaii through interesting facts about culture, beliefs, and the use of the island's local words. Maya & Filippo have an Aloha adventure that is fun and easy to read. The author does a fine job with capturing the Aloha spirit in this book. Kids are sure to love this book as well as all the Maya & Filippo's adventures books.

I like that the book also has a short quiz at the end, to test reading/listening skills, along with some facts about Hawaii. The book also has colorful illustrations that enhance the text.
6,241 reviews80 followers
March 11, 2015
This is a wonderful children's book filled with facts and fun as Maya and Filippo visit Hawaii and learn about the spirit of Aloha. Good illustrations.
Profile Image for Marjorie.
835 reviews67 followers
March 11, 2015
Given To Me For An Honest Review


Maya & Filippo Show Aloha by Alinka Rutkowska is another great book for children of all ages. The illustrations and bright and colorful. The sentences are short and easy to read. Maya & Filippo are off again on another adventure with their parents, their can Otello on their cruise ship. They are off to Hawaii. When they reach Hawaii they are greeted with leis and the word "Aloha". Maya, Filippo and you will learn about the 5 islands and what the meaning of Aloha is. After they learn the meaning and use it in that meaning they are off for a new adventure. Where will it be? At the end there is a short quiz. Next there is a short information page about Hawaii. Finally, it shares all about Aloha. This book is so good. I have read all of the books so far and each one is a good book to read and to have. I gave this book 5 stars but it deserves more. It would make a good gift to give to a child. It would look good on your child's bookshelf or any library's bookshelf. I highly recommend this book to everyone especially those who have small children, grandchildren, nieces or nephews. I sit waiting for the next great adventure with Maya & Filippo by Alinka Rutkowska.
Profile Image for Claire - The Coffeeholic Bookworm.
1,257 reviews109 followers
March 13, 2015
I loved everything else about this book, my kids love it too. Maya & Filippo are two kids aboard a cruise ship and embarked on a journey with their parents to the 50th US State, Hawaii! My sons liked that Maya & Filippo know how to have a good time and still learn while having fun. We're all for a book that not only entertains but also educates. We have cousins from Hawaii but we're really not that close to them because they're so far away. Now we have an idea of what it feels like to live there.

Aloha is a word we often hear and read about, and in this book, it is further explained by Serge. Honestly, we all thought Aloha only meant Hello or Goodbye. Now we know it's not just that. According to Serge, aloha is more about being pleased about the essence of life. Together, Maya & Filippo also learn about the different cultures and traditions of Hawaiian people. My eldest said, "I want to be like Filippo and have my own ukulele and play with it!"

The other thing we liked about this story, aside from the wonderful and colorful illustrations are the trivia & Q&A at the last part of the book. Very useful and educational, indeed! We hope to read more about Maya & Filippo's other cruise escapades on Alinka Rutkowska's series!
Profile Image for Lynda Dickson.
581 reviews66 followers
March 29, 2016
Maya and Filippo are a sister and brother pair who travel around the world with their parents and their cat Otello on the Fun Princess cruise ship. Today Maya and Filippo dock at Honolulu on the island of Oahu, Hawaii. They learn that the word "Aloha" means both "hello" and "goodbye", but it has another more important meaning as well.

This is another fun and educational offering from Alinka Rutkowska and illustrator Konrad Checinski. This time, the story itself contains a lot of factual information. Your children will learn about Hawaiian geography, language, history, and customs. The story is followed by a short quiz to check your child's comprehension and to reinforce key points. It also includes information about Hawaii and Aloha.

This is my favorite book in the series so far.

I received this book in return for an honest review.

Full blog post: http://booksdirectonline.blogspot.com...
Profile Image for Melanie Adkins.
802 reviews24 followers
June 5, 2015
The cruise ship Maya and her brother Filippo are on docks in Hawai'i. The children can't wait to explore the islands. Maya and Filippo are introduced to the Aloha way of living. They learn about the culture and beliefs of the islands, as they learn about Aloha. Maya and Filippo take on some new challenges too.

I adore these books. The lessons they teach children are amazing. While keeping the book fun and the pace the way it should be, Ms. Rutkowska slips the lesson. I enjoy the fact younger children have this resource to learn about new things. The concepts included give children a head start with learning about the world around them. Your littles will become friends of Maya and Filippo's in no time.

I found no issues.

I gave this one 5 cheers out of 5 because they are just delightful.

~Copy of book provided by author in exchange for a fair review~
152 reviews4 followers
March 14, 2015
This is a very interesting book for children to learn about Hawaii. This book is following Maya and Filippo who live on a cruise ship called the Fun Princess and visit all kinds of interesting places. This time they are visiting Hawaii. This book is very easily read to younger children as well as easy for young readers to read themselves. There is enough in the story give the students a taste of Hawaii and for some children maybe lead into a unit on Hawaii or finding more information on Hawaii. I like that there is a quiz after the story to help check the child's retention of the story, but this is true of all of Alinka Rutkowska's stories. I would recommend this book to anyone with young children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews and so on.
Profile Image for Lara.
84 reviews13 followers
March 15, 2015
This book is such an easy read, with colourful illustrations that children can easily follow and enjoy. I enjoyed the fact that children can also learned about Aloha, a word commonly associated with Hawaii but not often it is that people actually know the true meaning of it (including myself). The things that the children in the story do, and how it relates to Aloha, made understanding its meaning that much easier. Even when you think the book is coming to and end, there's a twist and it goes on for a bit longer.

In addition, there is an opportunity for development as the end provides a mini quizz to see what children remember; some fun facts; and a list of the other books in the series. Overall, it's a lovely read that I'm sure any child will enjoy!
Profile Image for Rachael.
1,110 reviews4 followers
March 15, 2015
**I received this book free for an honest opinion**

My son and I enjoyed reading Maya & Filippo Show Aloha. It is an educational & fun book that teaches facts about Hawaii. My 5 year old son said that he would give it 3 out of 5 stars because the story was just o.k. to him. Even though he wasn't super excited about this book, he was able to answer all of the questions from the quiz correctly. Because of this, I give it 4 stars because the book did teach him some fun facts about Hawaii. We also read Maya & Filippo Visit a Glacier and my son liked that one better. I love the illustrations in the books and I plan to read more from this series.
Profile Image for Janie.
1,530 reviews15 followers
March 17, 2015
"Maya and Filippo Show Aloha" by Alinka Rutkowska is a story that can be read alone or with a parent. It's an enjoyable story that continues the adventures of Maya and Filippo as the cruise ship their parents work on visits Hawaii. Children will learn about the different islands that make up Hawaii, and some of the customs.

If your child is 7 & up they can read this alone, and if they're under 7 they will also enjoy this read about our 50th state. At the end of the story there are questions about the book. I love that because it helps to know if the kids were really paying attention to the story, and it makes the kids think about what was read. Another wonderful book by Alinka R.
Profile Image for Gigi Sedlmayer.
Author 6 books65 followers
March 11, 2015
Hawaii, here we come

And once again, Alinka Rutkowska wrote a wonderful story about Maya and Filippo, as they travel by boat to Hawaii and show you around and tell important facts. They were fascinated to learn the meaning of “Aloha”, seeing the hula dance performed and watching a man playing the ukulele and watch some of the colourful birds of Hawaii.

A great book for young children to learn all about Hawaii. With wonderful colourful drawings.

Children will love it and will read it all over again.

Well done Alinka
Profile Image for Jojo.
17 reviews
March 16, 2015
A well written and illustrated book enjoyable for readers of all ages. This time Maya and Filippo are taking a cruise trip to Hawaii. The content is fun, simple and easy to understand for the young readers and educational. Even adults can learn a fact or two about the Hawaiian culture and highlights some common terminology. The best with all Alinka stories ends with a quick quiz helping the readers to stay focus and pay attention to the facts and explanations to the answers.

Fun and educational!
Profile Image for Catherine.
293 reviews11 followers
March 11, 2015
I obtained a free copy and this review is just my honest thoughts.

The Fun Princess has now docked in Hawaii. Some of its inhabitants- Maya, Filippo and their mother- tour around the island of Oahu. Going around Honolulu, they meet all sorts of different people and try various new things. It's a great little book which introduces children to what life is like in Hawaii and encourages them to learn about new cultures. All in all, it's perfect for kids and has very warm and inspirational themes.
Profile Image for Sandra Stiles.
Author 1 book81 followers
March 11, 2015
This is another great book by Alinka Rutkowska. In this book we find Maya and Filippo on board The Fun Princess. This time they stop off in Hawaii. They stop at the island O'ahu. Maya and Filippo go ashore with their mother. They see lots of wonderful things like hula dancing, ukelele playing and lots of wondeful leis. They learn that aloha not only means hello and goodbye, but it is the spirit of Hawaii. They learn that beeing cheerful and appreciative of life in general is showing aloha.
Profile Image for Jeanette.
1,129 reviews62 followers
March 15, 2015
I have read a few books by Alinka Rutkowska to my youngest grandchildren. They always enjoy these books, which are very colourful. This book had their imaginations working, as my daughter is hoping to take them on a cruise later this year.
124 reviews4 followers
March 12, 2015
What a lovely children's books. Great illustrations with lots of details. The story is sweet and simple, with lots of recognisable words, lots of repetition of story-specific words, and some challenging ideas and concepts that are perfect for talking about. As a teacher, I really like this :)
66 reviews3 followers
March 12, 2015
A NEW BOOK by. ALINKA RUTKOWSKA

A fun book, have Mom, Dad, or other Adult help you with this new read..learn about Hawaii, and what Aloha means.
Enjoy..
Profile Image for The Reading Writing Puppet.
525 reviews15 followers
April 5, 2016
This was a very cute book - educational as well. Lovely. It even had a little Quiz at the end for for. The drawings are really really cute.
Profile Image for Barbara Ann.
Author 22 books187 followers
October 5, 2018
Maya and Filippo live with their parents on a cruise ship named Fun Princess. The author provides clues for their next destination and invites young readers to guess. She describes the islands of Hawaii and talks about the language, customs, and culture. As the children arrive at Waikiki beach, readers learn about the ukulele, the flower lei, the hula dance, and the meaning of the word aloha. It does not simply mean hello and goodbye but describes the philosophy and way of living in Hawaii. The family spends a day at the beach before heading back to their cabin on the ship. Before ending their day, the children will have the opportunity to attend classes onboard to learn more about the hula dance and play the ukulele.
This book is colorfully illustrated in a cartoon-like format. Young would-be travelers will enjoy taking an armchair vacation with Maya and Filippo. I would especially recommend this book for children ages three through six.
Profile Image for NESTA TOYS.
54 reviews1 follower
January 18, 2025
Maya & Filippo Show Aloha by Alinka Rutkowska is a delightful and educational story for children aged 4-8. This engaging book follows Maya and Filippo, two curious and adventurous characters, as they explore the beautiful islands of Hawaii. The story introduces young readers to the concept of "aloha," highlighting its deeper meaning of love, kindness, and respect.

The vibrant illustrations bring the tropical setting to life, capturing the natural beauty and cultural richness of Hawaii. The narrative is simple yet impactful, teaching children valuable lessons about embracing kindness and understanding different cultures.

The book’s lighthearted tone and interactive elements make it a great read for both parents and children, encouraging discussions about travel, diversity, and compassion. Perfect for early readers, this charming tale combines fun adventures with meaningful messages. A must-read for families looking to inspire a love for exploration and positive values.
Profile Image for Nicole O'Connor.
Author 4 books9 followers
March 11, 2018
A pleasing educational story.

This story is about visiting the Hawaiian islands. It explains the meaning of the Hawaiian greeting and goes slightly into Hawaiian beliefs and culture. Inside, another book is offered as a free download. Delightful, colour illustrations. One snag was that the font was too small and that made for difficult reading on a kindle fire.
Profile Image for Hyacinth.
2,086 reviews16 followers
July 20, 2017
A very good book on cruising and Hawaii. I loved it. I think my grandson will love it too. Our next trip is Hawaii for his 6th birthday and he loves cruises. I love how the author gives information in a fun way then quizzes at the end.
1 review1 follower
July 2, 2018
Such a cute short book!

Cute story about Hawaii. My daughter loved the clues and facts and fun way to learn about Hawaii!!
Words were easy to read and pictures were cute and simple.
1 review
April 26, 2020
Useful to teach kids basics fact about new places and various cultures on the Earth

My girls ( 6 and 9)love to travel and ghey really liked to learn the basic facts about Hawaii and their traditions Thank you
Profile Image for Bella.
Author 5 books68 followers
March 20, 2018
Wonderful

Amazing book with great illustrations. Must read for kids. Great picture book. Talks about Aloha and other hawaain features. Lovely
8 reviews
January 1, 2019
Please increase font size

The sentiment was great but the text is too small for comfort and the writing is fine but quite average.
Profile Image for Rayjan Koehler.
638 reviews22 followers
December 9, 2019
Cute Children's Book

Cute little storybook, and with a lot for young children to learn!

Definitely recommend this children's book to you, and your family! ❤
Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews

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