Kailani's Gift

by Dorina Lazo Gilmore-Young, Lynnor Bontigao (Illustrator)

Overview

A picture book celebration of family, Filipino heritage, and dance that showcases the value of patience, perseverance, and blessing others with your gifts and talents.

As Kailani watches her siblings practice a traditional Filipino dance for their grandparents' anniversary party, she longs to join them. But keeping up with the rhythm and hopping in time with the beats of the tinikling is much harder than Kailani imagined!

With Daddy's help, Kailani practices the motions of the dance step by step. But will she be able to learn the tinikling in time to surprise her Lolo and Lola?

Illustrator Lynnor Bontigao's work pairs exquisitely with Dorina Gilmore-Young's storytelling to celebrate Filipino culture and traditions. Also included is a glossary of Tagalog terms used throughout the book.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780593577806
Publisher:	Random House Publishing Group
Publication date:	04/16/2024
Sold by:	Random House
Format:	eBook
Pages:	40
File size:	22 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	3 - 7 Years

About the Author

With a master of fine arts in children’s literature and a passion for multiculturalism, Dorina Lazo Gilmore-Young is a writer, speaker, former news reporter, and foodie. Her children’s book Cora Cooks Pancit received the Picture Book of the Year Award from the Asian Pacific American Librarians Association. Dorina is a self-proclaimed “glory chaser” who meets God as she runs trails through mountains or near the ocean. Dorina and her husband, Shawn, are raising three daughters in central California.

Lynnor Bontigao hails from one of the more than 7,600 islands of the Philippines. She loves to illustrate stories that share her own experiences as well as stories where family relationships, culture, and food are intertwined. Lynnor is the debut author-illustrator of Sari-Sari Summers and lives in New Jersey with her husband, two kids, and tiny dog.

Read an Excerpt

Only one more week until Lolo and Lola’s big anniversary party!

Kailani skipped into the garage where her sisters and brother
were rehearsing their tinikling dance for the celebration. 

With swift motions, Marisol and Maile spread two
bamboo poles wide, smacking them against the
garage floor twice. Then they clapped the poles together. 

They kept the bamboo moving in a rhythmic pattern. 

Kailani watched as Zandro and Imelda jumped between the moving
poles. They twirled with the music as their bare feet danced.

Out-out-in. Hop-hop-half spin. Hop-hop-reverse.

Out-out-in. Hop-hop-half spin. Hop-hop-reverse.

Editorial Reviews

03/18/2024

A girl overcomes doubt to learn a traditional dance for her grandparents’ anniversary party in this sweet tale centering Filipino culture. Kailani, the youngest of five siblings, portrayed by Bontigao as smiling, pink-cheeked characters, doesn’t want to be left out of the tinikling dance they are rehearsing for the celebration. Kailani’s attempts to join result in sibling teasing, but Daddy says all she needs is a good teacher: “Me.” Kailani struggles until Daddy compares tinikling to jump rope, and practices constantly until she’s ready for her part in the siblings’ collaboration. Moments between Kailani and her father model a joyous bond in this low-stakes family tale rendered in Gilmore-Young’s friendly prose. An author’s note and glossary conclude. Ages 3–7. (Apr.)

Publishers Weekly

Moments between Kailani and her father model a joyous bond in this low-stakes family tale rendered in Gilmore-Young’s friendly prose.”—Publishers Weekly

From the Publisher