Maui Maui

Rating:
Summary: a life-changing book!
Review: Beautifully illustrated and full of wisdom, the book, Maui-Maui, was one of the major influences which caused me to become an environmentalist.
I remember when I read it, it wasn't a totally comfortable experience (but then neither was Orwell's brilliant political allegory "Animal Farm"); the "anenomies", who over-fish the ocean in the story, can be seen as a metaphor for humans, and it was an uncomfortable experience for me to identify with these creatures in the story, when I realised that they were causing such destruction. But who ever said learning and developing wisdom were painless?
Then again, I also have fond memories of the book - which is why I wrote this review. It's a great book! So if you want to foster an environmental consciousness in a child, I say give them this book! I know I will :)

Rating:
Summary: Too heavy handed.
Review: The Amomonies (small, furry, otter-like beings) love to fish. They happily pull fish, octopi, and so forth out of the ocean from their little boats. Then, one day, they find a whale moves to prevent their fishing. Thinking that the others are lying, Mom Amomony sets out to discover the truth. The whale confronts Mom Amomony, and shows her that her children are over-fishing, and depleting the ocean. The whale then teaches the Amomonies how to live in harmony with the ocean.

To me, where the rubber hits the road is what does my seven-year-old think of the book, and he hated it. This book is too heavy handed in the lesson, and doesn't do enough for the reader. The text was about right for his reading level, but a younger reader could probably read it as well.

My son gives this book one star; I give it an extra one for the lesson. Overall, I recommend you pass this one by.

Rating:
Summary: Maui-Maui
Review: This book teaches you not to over do it. In this book the Amomonies fish more then they should. Then the whale Maui-Maui comes and takes the Queen for a dive and shows her that there no fish left. So to find out if this book teaches them a lesson feed it.