Customer Reviews

The Shark God

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Rafe Martin is a very nice writer of stories having to do with legends and stories. He is also a very nice man to meet in person and is great with kids. David Shannon is a wonderful artist and has drawn beautiful pictures. This story is about young children who touch the king's drum and are threatened by death. The shark god helps. It is a nice story.

Though not bad, the story is short and overly simple, probably because the author altered it from the original legends and made it more Americanized. However the artwork is where this book really shines, and is probably worth the price on that alone. I bought it as a gift for my Godson who likes sharks.

My son picked "The Shark God" as a reward for a reading challenge at his elementary school. He has requested this story be read and reread to him multitudes of times and has yet to tire of it. The story provides him a glimpse into a culture that he would not otherwise get. When we get to the page featuring the shark god, my son's eyes are big with awe. I like how Rafe Martin made changes to create a family that my son responds to. And I had not made the connection about the illustrator being the one who wrote and illustrated the "David" books, which all my sons love!! This would make a great gift book as the story has the excitement kids love and the education parents want.

David Shannon ("No David") channels the spirit of Gaugin in this book. You can hardly believe it's the same artist. The story is thematically challenging for the early reader (6+). The protagonists are asked to place their trust in a shark god, which is portrayed with a touch of quiet malevolence. Yet they are rewarded for their kindness and faith. A beautiful, haunting story.