"Caren Loebel–Fried's writing is fresh and vivid, her art strong and alive... and I found her research to be outstanding. ‘Hawaiian Legends of the Guardian Spirits’ will enrich the hearts and minds of readers. The strength of Caren's retelling comes from a very honest wellspring of love for her work on behalf of Hawai'i and its people."
from the Foreword by Nona Beamer

"Ancient Hawaiians lived in a world inhabited by the spirits of gods and ancestors who moved in and out of the myriad forms of the natural world. At times of crisis or creation these guardian spirits appeared in dreams or waking life to guide, protect, or right injustice. Five of these guardians--shark, plover, breadfruit tree, owl, and gourd--make vivid appearances in this jewel-like book.... In retelling these tales, Loebel-Fried draws on several versions of each, found in published sources and ethnographic notes in the Bishop Museum Archives in Honolulu. The bibliography, citing over eighty works, attests to meticulous research. The content of the stories, the striking illustrations, and the clear and simple language make this book appealing for the young as well as for adults--and a real find for storytellers."
–Parabola Magazine, Summer 2004, by Noemie Maxwell

“Author, artist, and illustrator Caren Loebel-Fried of Oradell goes about as far from home as possible in her beautiful new volume ‘Hawaiian Legends of the Guardian Spirits.’ This book is a modern retelling of several centuries-old legends, and the more than 60 block prints that accompany each tale are stunning. Loebel-Fried has done a great job bringing these stories to life.”
Bill Ervolino, The Bergen Record, February 2003

“’Hawaiian Legends of the Guardian Spirits’ is unique indeed as it retells legends in an entirely new way. Perhaps most noteworthy of all are the 60 woodcuts, some in color, that are spread throughout the book. This work deserves the attention of Hawaiian collectors who savor the spiritual aspects of life in the islands and the role it still plays in the lives of many.”
The Molokai Dispatch, November 2002

“Caren Loebel-Fried is an artist and writer whose show at the Volcano Art Center in 2000 has now been turned into a book… The well-made volume consists of nine illustrated retellings of Hawaiian mo’olelo (legends) about protective gods, divided into five chapters, one for each of them. Her medium is block prints, very stylized, clean and appealing, and the stories are told in a very readable… style.”
The Honolulu Advertiser, December 2002

“Volcano artist Loebel-Fried, who both ‘retells’ these tales and created the way-cool block prints that illustrate this handsome book, delves into the fascinating legends of Hawaiian ‘aumakua, or creatures who watch over us.”
Honolulu Star Bulletin, November 2002

“The book evolved from an art exhibit at Volcano Art Center, which led Loebel-Fried to a study of ‘aumakua – “The intimate bond between people and nature.” The stories link Hawaiians directly to nature. Notes are included that put the legends into context both historically and culturally. The stories are definitely for those who want to learn more about the legends or just revisit them.”
Honolulu Star Bulletin, March 2003

“(Caren Loebel-Fried) has done an enormous amount of research and has tried to make sure that the stories are as Hawaiian-like as possible. Her book is more than a collection of mythical, fantastical stories of breadfruit or plovers, sharks or owls. Her book is a lens for viewing the world as a Hawaiian would view it, for infused in each story is the notion of ‘aumakua, or guardian spirit. Caren Loebel-Fried is also the illuminator of her own words. Her hand-colored block prints help tell the story and provide stunning decorative elements to the page. Her work is bold and evocative.”
Honolulu Advertiser, May 2003