MIKA SONG grew up in Manila, Philippines, and Honolulu, Hawaii, before moving to New York to study at Pratt Institute. She studied animation and worked as an animator before getting into children's books. In 2015, she received the Portfolio Award at the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators Winter Conference in NYC. An author and illustrator, Mika loves stories about sweetly funny outsiders, and recently illustrated the book Harry and Clare's Amazing Staycation and wrote and illustrated Picnic with Oliver. Mika lives in Brooklyn with her husband and daughter.

PRAISE FOR Ho'onani: Hula Warrior:

"Heather Gale's prose is buttressed by Mika Song's lovely drawings to make this a wonderfully feel-good story about tradition and difference." --New York Times

"[A] rousing tale of a child overcoming obstacles . . . it also deftly weaves in elements of culture and gender in simple language that kids can understand." --Today.com

"Boldly outlined watercolor and ink artwork . . . convey visual information with strength that suggests Ho'onani's own. And Gale grounds the child's experience, based on a true story, in Hawaiian traditions, modeling showing 'every person the same unconditional acceptance and respect'." --STARRED REVIEW, Publishers Weekly

"Ho'onani's courage to be true to herself and her place in the middle is empowering. Hawaiian words are intermixed, and Song's illustrations are full of emotion and determination." --Kirkus Reviews

"An entertaining, illuminating, and empowering read, Ho'onani: Hula Warrior will make a welcome addition to classrooms, libraries, and story times!" --CM Magazine

"This is a book that delicately tackles a difficult but important subject with sensitivity and without fuss at an age-appropriate level." --Resource Links

"Song's watercolor and ink illustrations have a gentle Saturday morning cartoon appeal and give Ho'onani a strong, purposeful appeal." --The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books