About This Book

On a tropical island long ago, two children are sentenced to death by a heartless king. Desperate, their parents dare to do what none have done before: they seek out the aid of the great Shark God. But the Shark God is huge and terrible to behold! Is there compassion in that fierce, sharp smile? Or just hunger? The Shark God is based on Hawaiian legend.

Almost ten years ago Rafe Martin and David Shannon set the standard for folktale interpretations with their unforgettable rendition of the Algonquin Cinderella tale, The Rough-Face Girl. Since then David Shannon has received a Caldecott Honor and Rafe Martin has delighted audiences across the nation with his storytelling. Their talents have deepened and broadened, and here, in this thrilling reunion, they show that their collaboration still sparkles with a unique chemistry.

Many will hear echoes of the biblical flood story in this tense and moving Hawaiian legend: a righteous family, a cruel and callous civilization, a deity whose wrath brings a terrible storm of destruction, leaving one lone boat untouched.

But heaven is truly in the details of this glorious picture book — in the dramatic phrasing of Martin's perfectly paced text and in the Gauguin-like splendor of Shannon's gloriously colored canvases.

About the Authors or Illustrators

Rafe Martin

Children's author and storyteller Rafe Martin's works include Will's Mammoth and The Boy Who Loved Mammoths. He was inspired by the stories his parents and grandparents told him when he was a child.

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David Shannon

Award-winning artist and bestselling author David Shannon has long been a favorite among teachers and librarians with such titles as How Georgie Radbourn Saved Baseball, The Amazing Christmas Extravaganza, and A Bad Case of Stripes. His popularity skyrocketed in 1998 with the publication of his picture book No, David!

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