Books for Pre-K to 2nd Grade:

The Other Side of The Pond

Anonymous

If you want to focus children’s attention, you must first capture their interest. Author and Illustrator, Mel Hioki, cleverly introduces the reader to seeing things from another perspective in his “The Other Side of The Pond.” Vivid, lively, playful illustrations depict situations and emotions immediately familiar and credible to children. When the fears and misconceptions of two communities of springing pond hoppers (more alike than different) are vaulted into a predicament, neighbors swim into action. Chomping away at an obstacle not only provides a quick fix, but clears the hurdle to an unselfish outcome. Simple text suitable for young children; lush illustrations that all ages will enjoy; teamed with the power of generosity, seize the reader’s fancy. Hioki rises to the challenge of breaking down barriers with great skill in this accomplished, atmospheric, and innovative primer.

Anonymous

We absolutely love this book! It’s a wonderful read with such vibrant illustrations. The story is fun and engaging and so cute! We love to read it over and over again, and with each read there is a new lesson or conversation to be had on hunger, caring, sharing, overcoming fear, diversity, acceptance and celebration. I highly recommend this book!

SSWaters

“The Other Side of the Pond” (TOSOTP) is a big little book. Author and illustrator Mel Hioki diverges from his advertising career to pen a currently relevant fable about being neighbors. While the vibrant and playful artwork will captivate children, this is a story for all ages. Truly a people book, despite the main characters being red and polka dot frogs, that can be enjoyed over and over again.

Many of us relax in the satisfaction of plentiful goods and services, enjoy cutting edge conveniences, and savor the pleasures of The Food Channel. It can be uncomfortable to confront the realities of an estimated 60 million (c. 2016) displaced men, women, and children worldwide and the persistent economic disparity contributing to broken homes, violent crimes, and food deserts in our own cities. TOSOTP winsomely depicts this side by side, age-old phenomenon afresh. Aren’t we all a bit afraid of our neighbors? Will we actually run out if we care for another? Read TOSOTP and receive more than a dose of reality. Get hope … and like a red frog, get hopping.

Anonymous

“The Other Side of The Pond” is brightly and beautifully illustrated by Mr. Hioki. The story is written so it is easy to read and clearly identifies a powerful message about hunger. This book is not just for children, but for all of us to be alerted to this huge issue. It makes us aware of how common the hunger problem is, and could be even across the street from the neighborhood grocery store. Also, the story characters are cute and I think children can take a liking to them.

PageTurner55

I adore this whimsical, yet educational children’s book. The illustrations are as colorful as the characters brought to life in the story. It’s the perfect way to introduce the serious issue of hunger to very young readers. This has become a go-to gift for me, and I have given a copy to all of my nieces and nephews and friends’ kids. Many of them have a favorite frog in the book, and all have given their own rave reviews!

Anonymous

This is an incredibly enjoyable book. The illustrations are gorgeous, and the story line is engrossing for young and old while also teaching a valuable lesson about compassion and helping your neighbors in need. I’ve given it as a gift a few times and it has quickly become a favorite among the youngsters in my life. Can’t recommend it enough.

The Day Planet Rainbow Lost Its Color

Timely Truth
Reviewed in the United States on November 13, 2017
Often a crisis shows us what we are made of. In “Planet Rainbow” his second fable (see also The Other Side of the Pond/Urban Hunger), Mel Hioki shines a light on our natural bent toward narcissism, our preoccupation with me, mine and my own group. With cheerful, engaging characters, Hioki shows how a root of selfishness can drain an entire society while respect and appreciation for diversity positions a society to flourish. Without using big words! This is a great book for reminding us over and over again that people thrive by welcoming and building up the strengths of every neighbor. The bold, whimsical artwork is fun to follow and the story nourishes the soul. Simple lines, simple truth.

Pt
Great message to teach your children in s fun story… everyone learns to help each other and get along no matter what color !!
Reviewed in the United States on January 27, 2018
I LOVE the vibrant colors used to illustrate the story in this book and most of all I love the VALUABLE LESSON that children of any age can clearly understand in a fun way! Read this to your children, grandchildren and your friends children ( I have and the children loved it!) Going back to good ole days of reading to your children and spending time as a family spreading messages through books is a fantastic way to teach your children many things that hopefully stick in their minds! Enjoy … you won’t be disappointed!

Sandra M. Cummings
Such a terrific story – simply told
Reviewed in the United States on March 20, 2018
Such a terrific story – simply told, and with a clear message. The use of language is inspiring, and the illustrations are fun. I enjoyed the characters, and look forward to sharing the book with the children in my life. I believe the story will encourage some terrific conversations: it has plenty of opportunities to expand the diversity conversation based upon the age and complexity of the children with whom you are sharing the story. I very much look forward to reading Mel’s other book, “The Other Side of the Pond” to see how he approaches issues of food insecurity.

Bridgemen
We love this book
Reviewed in the United States on November 6, 2017
We love this book! My toddler son often says we live in a rainbow land because all the colors of the rainbow are all around us. When I read him this book about a rainbow planet, he was so excited! What a wonderful story and a great lesson to children and adults alike on human acceptance, kindness, and community. This is another great book by Mel Hioki!

Myrthee
I love that the cute characters teach kids about diversity and …
Reviewed in the United States on November 16, 2017
My 6-year old loves this book! The illustrations are bold, colorful, and vibrant, and the story is truly engaging. I love that the cute characters teach kids about diversity and acceptance in a way that doesn’t label race, gender, or other defining groups we tend to categorize people in. The adventure presented in this story is also great for beginning readers because, just as in well-known fairy tales, there is some repetition of phrases that my kid really enjoys. She also happens to like Mel Hioki’s other book, The Other Side of the Pond (this one is about food inequality). Check both books out!

One Mother
Perfect children’s book for all ages
Reviewed in the United States on January 12, 2018
The book beautifully and simply illustrates the prejudices we all passively or blatantly think or say. The book can be enjoyed by a young to older reader. The book is a reminder our humanity, the ugly and the beautiful. Recommended reading for all. Big thank you to the author/illustrator for reminding us that we are all the same, especially in these current times of ridiculously heightened prejudices.

Jersey Gene
Love this book
Reviewed in the United States on November 6, 2017
Love this book! The illustrations are friendly and colorful. It teaches children in a creative way how important it is to appreciate diversity!

Eugene Cho
Beautifully illustrated book with an important message all our children …
Reviewed in the United States on December 1, 2017
Beautifully illustrated book with an important message all our children need to learn. My 9-year-old daughter read it to her classroom and they loved it!

The Bully, Bobeetle & the Magical Turning Table

Jeff Smith
I met Mel many years ago while doing philanthropy for a local nonprofit CUMAC. It was there that I quickly realized our shared passion for helping the community. The difference is Mel took his admiration a step further and wrote a children’s book that brought consciousness to our youth. His first book about hunger awareness. His second book about diversity and inclusion. His latest book The Bully, Bobeetle & The Magical Turning Table is about treating others the way you want to be treated. Once again Mel has taken important lessons in life and brought them to our youth in a unique, highly creative, and understanding way. If children can learn and be open to the morals and values that Mel discourses through his books and nonprofit, communities will certainly come together for a much greater cause.

Alexis Abunhadba
When I came across Mel’s work, I was so impressed because his work caters to our youth; the next generation to create an equitable and inclusive world. From a young age, Mel teaches children the importance of embracing the differences that make each of us unique, which is a lesson many adults struggle with. Through colorful graphics, fun characters, and an adventurous plot, The Bully, the Bobeetle & the Magical Turning Table teaches a valuable lesson that will shape the interactions of our youth and inspire them to approach all with kindness and curiosity. Mel approaches a difficult yet important topic from a creative angle and the more children that read his books, the closer we are to a loving and accepting society.

Mireille Johnson
This delightfully illustrated picture book features Razooh, the bully who incessantly picks on innocent little Bobeetle. Readers of all ages will relate to Bobeetle’s confusion and worry when she is being bullied. However, when the roles are reversed after Bobeetle makes a wish, it is Razooh who experiences what it’s like to be bullied. Luckily, readers will also find comfort when Bobeetle realizes that being the bully is not a solution to the problem. Kindness prevails and the characters learn to treat one another with compassion. By presenting this familiar scenario sprinkled with a little bit of magic, Hioki successfully shows how reflection and empathy can stop the cycle of bullying. This story would complement any grade school child’s library or school’s anti-bullying curriculum.

Stephanie Ames
My niece, nephew and I really enjoyed reading this story together. We loved this book for its colorful illustrations, engaging story, and important message. Razooh, Bobeetle, and the Magical Turning Table are such great characters! Their story makes it easy for young children to understand big concepts like empathy, kindness, and the power of our words. It helped us to start a very interesting conversation about how it feels to be bullied; which words and actions can turn us into “accidental bullies” when we use them; and what we can do when, like Go-Ge, we see bullying happening around us. All around, this was an engaging read that helped jump start important conversations with my little people. I will definitely be recommending it to friends and family!