Punia and the King of Sharks: A Hawaiian Folktale (Hardcover)

by Lee Wardlaw (Author) "Beneath the rippling island water, near the shadows of a cave, lurked ten great sharks and the shark king who ruled them..." (more)
Key Phrases: lobster cave, King of Sharks

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
Jaunty prose and artwork join forces in this adaptation of a Hawaiian folktale in which a slip of a boy outwits the treacherous King of Sharks. Some years before, Punia's father was eaten by sharks while trying to catch lobsters, and now, hoping to assuage his mother's craving for the delicacy, Punia determines to trick the shark king. Three times he steals lobster from the king's private supply, and three times he causes the king to distrust his closest followers until, on the fourth attempt, Punia fights the king alone. Wardlaw's (The Tales of Grandpa Cat) text breezes along, filled with the natural cadences of speech and studded with vivid images ("fat lobsters, red as sunset, sweet as coconut"). Davalos (The Sea Serpent's Daughter) depicts life above and below sea level in varying shades of blue-green, bright and flat in the island light. His sharks grin demonically, yet are comical rather than frightening, gullibility apparent on their placid snouts. In contrast, Punia is all movement, mischievous and wily. The verdant island setting gives the light-hearted text a firm foundation, a sense of place and history, imbuing the story with the quality of local legend. Ages 4-8.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal
Kindergarten-Grade 3. Since Punia's father was eaten by sharks while fishing, the boy and his mother have subsisted on yams and poi instead of lobster. One day while Punia stares longingly at the cave where the lobsters live, he sees the sharks sleeping and gets an idea. As they swim toward a big rock he has thrown in the water, Punia dives into the cove and snatches several lobsters. This is only the first of several, even more complicated tricks that he dreams up until he banishes the sharks forever from his cove. Wardlaw's adaptation of a traditional Hawaiian trickster tale has an added element of nail-biting suspense, for in playing his final trick Punia becomes a bit too bold and almost ends up in the shark king's belly. Of course, his quick wits save him in the end, and peace is restored to Hawaiian waters and lobster meat to Punia's table. Davalos evokes the lush setting of a tropical island with his richly colored illustrations. The layout is nicely balanced throughout the book to carry the story forward and underscore its drama. A welcome addition to trickster tales from other cultures.?Barbara Kiefer, Teachers College, Columbia University, NY
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Dial; 1st edition (January 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0803716826
• ISBN-13: 978-0803716827
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.8 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,185,611 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Punia and the King of Sharks, May 28, 2000

By A Customer

I have been using this book all semester with 4-7 year-olds in creative art and drama classes. My students rated it as the book they most wanted me to bring back for an encore. It is delightful to see kids' gears turning as they comprehend each of Punia's tricks and predict the outcomes. They charged into the related class projects, and discussed the story on their own. It was a teacher's dream come true.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great adjunct to our Hawaii trip!, April 22, 2003

By A Customer

I bought this book to read to my 5 year old before we went on our Hawaii vacation. She loved it! We must have read it a dozen times before we left for our vacation! I am not an expert on Hawaiian culture, but the story was entertaining and it discussed many things we experienced during our trip to Hawaii, for example, volcanoes, surfing, seafood, and more. It also has a glossary of common Hawaiian words which were a lot of fun to learn. I highly recommend it for any child who is interested in learning more about different cultures or stories from other lands.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Wonderful Tale, March 29, 2001

By	Ellen Jackson (USA) - See all my reviews

This is a beautifully told Hawaiian tale. Ms. Warlaw knows the culture and it shows. This award-winning, kid-friendly book has something for everyone.