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Reviewed by Divine Zape for Readers' Favorite
In Dogfish and the Goodbye Wave, Rita Reed entices children with a setting in the sun-soaked shores of Maui. Dogfish swims off enthusiastically to see cousin Milo in Maui, and discovers a magical summer filled with dancing, giggles, and the delightful company of Hula, Milo’s beloved pet hermit crab wearing a swish-swishy shell. But when Hula crosses the "rainbow bridge" beneath silver moonlight, Milo’s happy world is suddenly filled with sorrow. Milo is unwilling to play. Dogfish helps his cousin understand grief in this difficult moment with wisdom and patience. Together, they build a memory box filled with love notes and puka shells, bring together ocean friends for a special ceremony under the rainbow skies, and tell beautiful stories to celebrate Hula’s silly wiggles. But Hula leaves a surprise behind.
Dogfish and the Goodbye Wave is beautifully illustrated with soothing colors in Craig Cartwright’s cinematic artwork. The book is filled with joyful notes. Grief comes with lessons for children, and the most important is that “Aloha means hello … and goodbye, you know.” This book also has great moments for adults. When Milo is distraught and sad, Dogfish reminds him that it takes “gentle strength to let tears fall.” And I smiled reading this, because it demonstrates that letting tears fall isn’t a weakness. Rita Reed introduces bereavement for children in an age-appropriate manner. The lilting, rhyming verses were delightful, and I enjoyed how the Hawaiian cultural concepts (ohana, aloha, mahalo) added texture to the story. Young readers will learn that creating tangible memorials can help honor relationships. The Create Your Own Memory Box guide made the book even more engaging and interactive. A perfect gift for children.
