Kailani’s Gift by Dorian Lazo Gilmore-Young

Kailani’s Gift features a young girl who wants to honor her grandparents for their 50th wedding anniversary by learning tinikling.

Kailani’s Gift by Dorian Lazo Gilmore-Young and illustrated by Lynnor Bontigao. Waterbrook, 2024. 40 pages.

• Reading Level: Picture books, Ages 4-8
• Recommended For: Ages 4-8

Lolo and Lola are celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary, and everyone is preparing for the big event. Kailani’s siblings are choreographing an elaborate tinikling dance, but she’s too young to join in. It’s so frustrating! What can Kailani contribute? If she works hard, can she learn the tinikling dance?

Kailani’s daddy steps in and helps Kailani step-by-step learn a basic dance. When the big day comes, she’s able to contribute to the celebration.

I remember learning tinikling in my middle school P.E. class, and I loved it! I was also on a jump rope team, so Kailani’s connection between jumping rope and tinikling made sense to me. The author includes many Tagalog words in the story, explaining them further in the glossary. Kailani’s Gift is a sweet story about a young girl who works hard to contribute to a family celebration. Perhaps even better: here is a charming story that not only honors the young protagonist’s hard work, it shows how important multi-generational families are and the importance of marriage.

Remember, unless a book is starred, a review is not necessarily a recommendation. Read more about our ratings here.

Recommended Reading at Redeemed Reader

• Book Review: Cora Cooks Pancit is another story by the same author.
• Book Review: Another charming picture book featuring a protagonist who must persevere is Papá’s Magical Water-Jug Clock
• Resource: Browse all of our “cultural diversity” titles!

We are participants in the Amazon LLC affiliate program; purchases you make through affiliate links like the one below may earn us a commission. Read more here.

Buy this book on Amazon.