Review of "The Girl and The Ocean" by Lei'a Haff, Illustrated by Julia Moroko

Score: 96/100 (9.6 out of 10)

The Girl and The Ocean is a fabulous, enchanting, and impactful children's book by Lei'a Haff, brilliantly illustrated by Julia Moroko!

First and foremost: this is one of the best illustrated children's books we've seen so far this year!

A tremendous amount of credit needs to go to the illustrator, Julia Moroko, who perfectly blends realistic character proportions with a cartoonishly fun, vibrant, and beautiful flare! You can tell that a ton of time and effort went into every single illustration.

The backgrounds and environments are absolutely breathtaking and gorgeous! They're highly detailed and dynamic—showing the whiteness of the waves as they gently crash against the shore, a rainbow forming in the ocean mist, dolphins leaping from the water, and birds flying by in the bright, cotton-cloud sky.

One of our favorite illustrations is on page 30 (when the son is shown to be grown up). The background and foreground on this page are phenomenal and breathtaking, featuring plumeria flowers up front and a gorgeous, green mountain that may be Kualoa Ranch and/or the Ko'olau Mountains on the Hawaiian island of Oahu.

By the way, this book is uniquely Hawaiian, looking like one of those artsy yet funny postcards you might buy at Shirokiya (an old Japanese store that used to be in Ala Moana mall).

The characters are also incredibly appealing. The girl becomes a beautiful, gorgeous mother with soft, friendly features. It's magnificent to see her grow and develop as a person and a character. Her dad sports a handsome beard. Her son grows to be a handsome young man who looks like a real-life person you might run into on the island.

Anyway, we haven't even gotten into the story yet!

The book tells the heartfelt story of a young girl who forms a deep connection with the ocean. As a child, she plays, swims, and bonds with the sea, expressing her love each time she visits. However, as she grows older, her visits become infrequent, and the ocean suffers neglect and pollution from others. Over time, the ocean’s beauty diminishes, and marine life disappears.

It's actually a bit like The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein in its story and characters, however, is a bit more intricate and better illustrated.

Eventually, the girl returns with her baby boy. Seeing the ocean’s suffering, she dedicates herself to restoring it. With determination and persistence, the girl, her son, and others clean the beach and water, allowing the ocean to heal and thrive again. In the end, after the girl passes, her son continues her legacy, showing that the love for the ocean transcends generations.

This is a book that seeks to address humanity's negative and reckless impact on nature and the environment. Indeed, one of the most frustrating things about visiting a gorgeous, picturesque place like Hawaii is how tourists (and even locals) carelessly litter, leaving bags, cups, soda cans, bottles, and other trash everywhere. The people of Hawaii tend to be very protective of their land—their aina—having a nigh-spiritual connection to it. To spit, urinate, or litter on the land without apologizing or saying "excuse me" is considered very taboo among many people on the islands. That same spirit extends to the ocean, the kai (near the shore) and the moana (in the deep).

In Hawaii, the most hardcore and superstitious people say that you shouldn't turn your back on the sea, you back away facing it with respect and reverence first.

Littering on the island, as you might imagine, is a huge no-no. It's a huge act of disrespect and disregard. In fact, Mahalo Does Not Mean Trash by Paki Perkins, a previous Outstanding Creator Awards winner, littering was a major focus. Both books discourage littering and put forward the idea that you should treat nature with respect, like it's your home (because it is)!

One last thing we want to mention that's remarkable about this book is how the mood fluctuates dramatically, punctuated not only by the events but by the color and lighting effects used by the illustrator. It's really powerful and brilliant.

The sky and waters become darker and murkish as the girl fails to return to the ocean for a long time and as the people continue to pollute.

However, brightness, color, and light return as the girl and her supporters rally to help the ocean. As the ocean heals, so do we. And it's a powerful feeling!

Another strength of this book is the simplicity of its writing. Kids of all ages can pick this up and read it. Parents and teachers won't struggle or have to worry about their kids losing interest. Every passage is short, sweet, and to the point.

Check it out on the author's website!