#375 of 1001 · August 10, 2021

Sharks, so frequently depicted in popular media as malevolent, bestial killing machines, receive a sympathetic and even respectful portrayal worthy of their honored place in Hawaiian culture in Rafe Martin and @nodavid2018’s The Shark God. Two siblings rescue a shark tangled in a fishing line—evidence of their kind and caring nature. But a short while later they carelessly violate the law of their land by tapping on the drum of the king, who promptly locks them up and sentences them to death. Their frantic mother and father venture into the cavern of Kauhuhu the Shark God, who is moved by the children’s plight and their parents’ plea. He sends a great tidal wave and a massive shark to destroy the king’s palace and free the children; the family safely escapes and makes their way across the sea to a new island. Martin’s text includes Hawaiian words and phrases throughout: “mano” (“shark”), “kapu” (“sacred” or “forbidden”), “lele ka hoaka” (“the spirit has flown”). The rich, saturated colors of Shannon’s art heighten the beauty and spectacle of the story. A note for folklore enthusiasts: Martin explains in a detailed author’s note his history with this traditional Hawaiian tale. He encountered it first in Padraic Colum’s Legends of Hawaii, then became inspired to conduct deeper research after being invited to Hawaii’s Talking Island Storytelling Festival, and found a more complete rendition of the story (titled “Kauhuhu, the Shark God of Molokai”) in William Drake Westervelt’s Hawaiian Legends of Ghosts and Ghost-Gods. Martin’s adaptation alters numerous plot details of the source text, adding and removing characters and changing the ending to add a note of optimism, likely intended to appeal to younger readers. Both Martin and Shannon visited the Bishop Museum on Oahu to conduct cultural research in preparation for this book. #shark #god #sea #ocean #beach #island #drum #cave #storm #canoe #book #books #childrensbooks #beautifulbooks #picturebook #picturebooks #childrensbookillustration #childrensliterature #illustration #kidlit #kidsbooks #bookworm #booklover #booklovers #bibliophile #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookstagrammers #instabook #instabooks