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Serendipity
Maui-Maui
A whale teaches the Amomonies to respect the balance of nature and take only what they need from the sea
32 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1978
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
September 13, 2019
This is a story from the 70s about conservation and with a heavy moral about taking care of the oceans. This is a long story. It’s about a whale who is trying to save the seas from being overfished. He has to breaks the nets and fishing rods of the Amomonies, a people of weasel like creatures who are wasteful with what they get out of the sea. They have to learn how to live with the sea and the whale teaches them.
The nephew loved the Whale and weasels, but he thought the story was just a little slow and long. He gave this 2 stars, but he thought it was ok.
This is another story I pulled from my aunt’s library collection from the past. If I had gobs of money, I would put a library together that preserved all these old books out of print or hard to get books before they are totally forgotten.
The nephew loved the Whale and weasels, but he thought the story was just a little slow and long. He gave this 2 stars, but he thought it was ok.
This is another story I pulled from my aunt’s library collection from the past. If I had gobs of money, I would put a library together that preserved all these old books out of print or hard to get books before they are totally forgotten.
September 18, 2019
This conservation-themed story features a wise whale who teaches a lesson of sustainability to the Amomonies, a group of otter-like creatures who are over-fishing their ocean home. The Amomonies are being tremendously wasteful in a variety of ways, from catching more fish than they will ever use to cooking lavish fish dishes and letting them go to waste. When the sea is almost emptied, the characters learn belatedly that there aren't "plenty of fish," after all.
Overfishing is something that has been on the radar of humanity for quite a while, but we clearly still haven't learned our lesson.
Veg*n parents note: The message of MAUI-MAUI is one of conservatively using wildlife, not avoiding eating them altogether. The whale's advice hinges on catching fewer fish and not "wasting" them, but no where is the advice that the Amomonies choose to eat differently.
Overfishing is something that has been on the radar of humanity for quite a while, but we clearly still haven't learned our lesson.
Veg*n parents note: The message of MAUI-MAUI is one of conservatively using wildlife, not avoiding eating them altogether. The whale's advice hinges on catching fewer fish and not "wasting" them, but no where is the advice that the Amomonies choose to eat differently.
July 3, 2017
This was a very good book of the Serendipity series that was focused on not being wasteful and of being good stewards of the rest of the world that we lived in. The writing was clear and simple to understand for any child.
The pictures were adorable and were a wonderful collection of combing the sea and land together. Definitely a great book any child interested in either this series or being green.
The pictures were adorable and were a wonderful collection of combing the sea and land together. Definitely a great book any child interested in either this series or being green.
February 6, 2008
One of my favorite Serendipity books.
March 16, 2013
Love this series.
June 23, 2015
This book is about a bunch of creatures called The Amomonies. They catch fish and other sea creatures, and then they waste what they don’t use. One day a whale comes and won’t let the Amomonies fish. He breaks their nets and fishing rods. So the queen Amomonie comes and talks to the whale, and the whale tells her that they are hurting the sea, and that he and the other whales are starving. So the whale teaches the Amomonies conservation.
I like this book because there is text on one side of the page, and there is a detailed picture on the other side of the page. The text and pictures complement one another. There is also a moral to be learned at the end of the story. Which make this book a very worthy read.
I would use this book to teach my children. They would enjoy looking at the pictures, and they would also learn some great life lessons. They would be better kids for reading this book.
I like this book because there is text on one side of the page, and there is a detailed picture on the other side of the page. The text and pictures complement one another. There is also a moral to be learned at the end of the story. Which make this book a very worthy read.
I would use this book to teach my children. They would enjoy looking at the pictures, and they would also learn some great life lessons. They would be better kids for reading this book.
December 29, 2015
The Amomonies are basically really long otters who, as precursors to humans, totally overfish their section of the ocean until a whale named Maui-Maui shows them this isn't sustainable.
Yeah, that's not relevant at all.
The thing of it is that this is trying to get such an important message across, but maybe this isn't the right medium. The Serendipity books are so simple and short that such a big idea gets cramped here and has to become black and white even though there are, to my adult mind, grey areas. How do they repopulate the ocean, I wonder? Did the last place the Amomonies live get hollowed out, too, and that's why they had to leave? Is everyone truly eating their fair share on Amomony Island, or are some going hungry even though there's plenty to spare?
As a kids' book, this is delightful. As an adult, I'm having a harder time with it. Time to hand it to a kid so that the next generation can squirrel away the concept that there aren't plenty of fish in the sea.
Yeah, that's not relevant at all.
The thing of it is that this is trying to get such an important message across, but maybe this isn't the right medium. The Serendipity books are so simple and short that such a big idea gets cramped here and has to become black and white even though there are, to my adult mind, grey areas. How do they repopulate the ocean, I wonder? Did the last place the Amomonies live get hollowed out, too, and that's why they had to leave? Is everyone truly eating their fair share on Amomony Island, or are some going hungry even though there's plenty to spare?
As a kids' book, this is delightful. As an adult, I'm having a harder time with it. Time to hand it to a kid so that the next generation can squirrel away the concept that there aren't plenty of fish in the sea.
January 20, 2015
The ending was so simplistic as to kind of miss the point. The creatures fished and took more than they needed until there were no fish in the see and the whales were starving because there were none left. Then the whales showed them how to fish and take only what they needed and throw back fish that were small, and how to fish for certain types of fish. Well if the fish were all gone, how exactly would they do this?
The moral is "Take only what you need from nature." I would have liked a wider variety, that it isn't just about fishing. But it was still good.
3.5 stars
The moral is "Take only what you need from nature." I would have liked a wider variety, that it isn't just about fishing. But it was still good.
3.5 stars
December 4, 2014
A socially conscious book in which a whale teaches some creatures called Amomonies that look like otters the value of fishing in season and only harvesting what they need after the sea becomes depleted of fish. Not the most engaging story I've read this year, but it was cute. Alice picked it from her school library this week and is in a total marine life obsession this week. I think it's because I took her to the marine science center to pet the sting rays just before Thanksgiving.
December 10, 2015
This story is mostly about conservation, that kicked off a generation of kids who actually were concerned about the oceans and the dangers of over-fishing. My daughter brought this book home today and I enjoyed it a second time; only now as an adult. I dearly hope that my child will take the lessons of the Serendipity books to heart and carry them within her heart, as I have.
September 18, 2014
Just looking at the picture, I thought it would have dolphins in it; instead it had whales. I didn't realize how environmentally oriented the author was. This is about not being wasteful, especially in the oceans. I think we all still need to learn this lesson.
May 22, 2016
I wish this book was a bit more involved. The fish suddenly disappear, not one to be had?! And it'd be nice if there was more about how wonderful the ocean can be when taken care of. The names were weird. Not my favorite.
March 17, 2019
"Maui-maui" is a story about creatures called Amomonies who have been over-fishing in the ocean and wasting food. A whale named Maui-maui teaches them that they're hurting the environment. It's a decent story, but pretty preachy for a children's book. 2nd-5th
June 16, 2009
the epitome of dolphin safe.
January 23, 2011
Check out my blog, Books from Bleh to Basically Amazing for my thoughts and memories of the Serendipity series!
April 25, 2026
Maui-Maui (Serendipity)
by Stephen Cosgrove
early primary reader, good for teaching reading vocabulary and words
by Stephen Cosgrove
early primary reader, good for teaching reading vocabulary and words
December 3, 2017
I liked the take only what you need part but this book was a little too preachy.
November 3, 2023
A very delightful story that also teaches a bit about nature conservation, especially where the ocean is concerned. Alicorn Cove is another book along similar lines where over fishing starts to harm the ecosystem, but here it's told in a much more watered-down, easy to digest way.
February 8, 2018
I like this book because it taught the amomonies a lesson about the fish.
November 10, 2025
I 😍 love these books because they teach a lesson.
May 12, 2025
Basic plot: Respect the balance of nature.
I think I got my first Serendipity book through a Scholastic book order or book fair. I quickly became obsessed and collected a ton and a half of them as a child. I would spend hours just looking at the pictures because the art is simply gorgeous. The stories were whimsical and fun, and always ended with some sort of life lesson for kids. I kept reading these books long after other picture books had been set aside.
I think I got my first Serendipity book through a Scholastic book order or book fair. I quickly became obsessed and collected a ton and a half of them as a child. I would spend hours just looking at the pictures because the art is simply gorgeous. The stories were whimsical and fun, and always ended with some sort of life lesson for kids. I kept reading these books long after other picture books had been set aside.
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January 22, 2009JAR4-CosHB
September 9, 2014
This book teaches child-friendly messages with long-term benefits.
September 29, 2015
Beautifully illustrated and a sweet little story with morale. A wonderful story to share with your loved ones.
December 3, 2012
This story makes me think about whales at sea splashing-ivette
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews