"Too Many Mangos" is everything one could want in a picture book. The charming tale begins with little Kama and his sister Nani high up in their grandpa's mango tree. Kama picks the mangos one by one and passes them to his sister. Nani passes them to Grandpa.

"There are big ones, small ones, ripe ones, green ones, and some have brown spots on them," author Paikai writes. Grandpa decides they have too many for such a small family, so he sends the children down the road with a wagon full of mangos to share with the neighbors.

What follows is a visit from house to house, from one delightful neighbor to the next, with the keiki delivering the coveted fruit. And of course, each person who receives a mango from the children must return the favor in kind. As their wagon empties of the colorful fruit, it fills again with other goodies.

This is a wonderful bit of Island storytelling done in such a gentle way. Don Robinson's artwork, once again, is brilliant. The children he paints bring to mind Charles Schulz's Charlie Brown characters. Vibrant colors leap from the page, and the perspectives are unique and delightful.

'GO TO SLEEP HIDE AND SEEK'

Islander Ellie Crowe, who's authored a wide variety of children's books, pairs with artist Julie Wu to create a colorful lift-the-flap title well suited for bedtime sharing. It begins,

"Star bright! Good night! It's time to sleep.

But look who's playing hide and seek.

Can you find them? Take a peek."

Hiding behind the flaps are a sea turtle, clownfish, a spider, a gecko, and a surprise at the end that I won't spoil. This offers a joyful way to put the little ones to bed.

Jolie Jean Cotton is a Honolulu freelance writer. Her reviews of children's books appear here on the first Sunday of the month.