View sample pages:
|
$12.95 Hardcover
$6.99 Paperback TOON LEVEL: 3
INTEREST LEVEL: Age 5+ READING LEVEL: Grades 2-3 LEXILE LEVEL: 410 GUIDED READING LEVEL: N Hardcover, 40 pages, 6" x 9" PUBLISHED in 2012 HARDCOVER ISBN: 978-1-935179-16-0 PAPERBACK ISBN: 978-1-935179-60-3 |
About the BookFrom the islands of Hawaii comes the electrifying tale of Nanaue, who has to balance his yearning for Dad’s guidance with his desire for Mom’s nurture.
Award-winning cartoonist R. Kikuo Johnson transports young readers to the lush, tropical shores of his native Hawaii. Emerging readers, fluent or not, will be thrilled when they experience the transformative powers of this stirring literary work. |
Awards
|
Educator Tools
Our Shark King Guide contains a Lesson Plan and Student Activity Sheet to support standards-based instruction in the classroom. Our free guides are designed by a team of passionate literacy experts who specialize in classroom instruction for grades K-3.
|
About the AuthorR. Kikuo Johnson grew up in Hawaii on the island of Maui. For generations, native Hawaiians have told tales of the shape-shifting shark god Kamohoalii; The Shark King is the artist’s version of one such tale about the insatiable appetite of Kamohoalii’s son, Nanaue. Kikuo’s 2005 graphic novel, Night Fisher—also set in Hawaii—earned him both the Russ Manning Most Promising Newcomer Award and a Harvey Award.
Kikuo spent his childhood exploring the rocky shore in front of his grandmother’s house at low tide and diving with his older brother. Since moving to the mainland, Kikuo has discovered the joys of swimming in fresh water and currently lives in Brooklyn, New York, where he enjoys cooking, playing his ukulele, and riding his bike all over the city. |
Reviews
“This isn’t lazy storytelling; it’s exactly the opposite. Johnson knows what to emphasize and what to allude to, in order to engage young readers’ imaginations.”
--More-Than-One-Sentence “TOON Books has done it again, bringing us great content in a format younger students truly enjoy.” --Fabulous Fiber “TOON Books has mastered the art of graphic novels for early readers.” --Waking Brain Cells “This fun story is an enjoyable introduction to traditional Hawaiian culture. It’s a treat for younger and older readers alike.” --Pol Culture “Johnson is a talented cartoonist, and this graphic novel, which works either as a read-aloud or as a step toward chapter books for young readers, offers a story especially appealing to boys who long to be just like Dad.” --The New York Times “Sharks, superpowers, and the comic-panel format will initially lure in readers, but the subtext of bullying, parental separation, and self-discovery will stay with them long afterward.” --The Horn Book Magazine “Mr. Johnson’s lush, color-saturated illustrations add greatly to the charm of this book.” --The Pittsburgh Post-Gazzette “Young readers will enjoy the exotic tropical artwork and Nanaue’s insatiable appetite and ability to turn into a shark.” --ArcaMax “The art…is graceful and seeped in Hawaiian influence.” --The Real TV Land “Johnson drew from his island roots of his former home of Makawao, Maui.” --Honolulu Star Advertiser “[The Shark King] is a welcome reminder of [Johnson's] subtle but potent graphic style and his feel for local color.” --A.V. Club “ An easy reader graphic novel that is at once unexpected and a welcome sight to see.” --100 Scope Notes “Perfectly suited for the second- and third-grade crowd.” --The Blue Stocking Society “R. Kikuo Johnson’s art is amazing.” --Robot 6 “It looks really good, of course.” --Comics Alliance “This is the kind of book…parents would enjoy reading together with their children as much as the kids would.” --Read About Comics “Readers don’t have to be folklore fans to appreciate the humor or excitement, but those who are will also love the traditional rhythm and feel that flows through the work.” --School Library Journal "A beautiful and colorful illustrated comic [...] an inspiring story about adventure and magic." --Nichi Bei |
“The chunky-strong fonts and illustrations will have readers assuming power positions, fashioning capes to cover the sharky teeth on their backs. Depictions are no less glorious than the 1936 Eskridge story of Umi; both retellings allow a mystical, cultural experience.”
--New Jersey State Library Youth Services “How can you possibly resist this? Every page has something beautiful, all expertly laid out for younger eyes.” --Forbidden Planet International “This is a most unusual adventure that will have children hook, line, and sinker (excuse the awful pun) on page one…You won’t see anything else like it this year.” --Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast “Johnson proves again he is a master of visual storytelling.” --Comic Book Daily “With The Shark King [...] TOON Books breaks new ground.” --North Adams Transcript “The Shark King: A Toon Book opens like a fairy tale then quickly crescendos into an adventure.” --Greater Boston Jewish Coalition for Literacy “Kids will enjoy this simple yet mysterious story.” --School Library Journal “There’s a lot to unpack here…[Readers will] enjoy the idea of being a secret, magical prince.” --Comics Worth Reading “When I write a review, I try to be professional and refrain from gushing, but sometimes a book is so spectacular that I can’t help myself.” --Books4yourkids.com “This will be a hit with kids who like larger-than-life stories, a little bit of creepiness, and funny moments….Highly recommended.” --Jean Little Library “Although simple enough to keep brand-new and below-level readers in tow—and strengthen their vocabulary with contextual clues—this charming and playful Hawaiian fable will reveal deeper layers to more intuitive readers.” --Booklist “The Shark King stands out as a work of depth that will challenge your seven or eight year old with rich themes and may possibly invite them back for repeated investigations of the mysteries within.” --The John Seven Collection “The Shark King is straightforward but engaging, led by Johnson’s standout, classically influenced art.” --Publisher’s Weekly “[Johnson's] brown-skinned, lightly clad characters gesture and move with smooth naturalism, displaying both distinct personalities and expressions from comical to noble.” --Kirkus Reviews “The Shark King, a Toon Book by R. Kikuo Johnson, is an easy reader graphic novel that’s multicultural, intellectually interesting, and emotionally engaging, which is just about the swellest combination of descriptive phrases I can imagine combining (and the pictures are nice too!).” --Charlotte’s Library “The Shark King will be receiving a prominent place in my classroom library.” --Amazon reviewer |