ISBN: 978-1-58430-276-6
Book Website: At Lee & Low Books
Author: Ellie Crowe
Website: http://www.elliecrowe.com/
Illustrator: Richard Waldrep
Website: No illustrator website
Media Used (discussed in detail): The text is set in 13 point Venis. The illustrations were rendered in gouache with colored pencil detailing. The illustrations mimic the art deco paintings that were popular during Duke's time. The colors and sharp lines used help to capture the moments beautifully. Looking at the illustration of Duke swimming in the ocean with his arms stretched away from his body, I can almost see him swimming right towards me and off of the page. The illustrator gives the illusion of a body swimming in motion beautifully. The iconic picture of Duke surfing with a girl on his shoulders brought back memories of old beach movies I used to watch with my mom - which were more then likely inspired by Duke himself. I believe the art deco themed illustrations really pair well with the story's time period and mood.
Summary: The biographical story of five time Olympic swimming medalist, Duke Kahanamoku. Considered to be the ‘father of modern surfing,’ Duke introduced surfing to the world as well as spread his love for the ocean and for Hawaii.
Personal Reaction: Living near Huntington Beach, CA and having seen the statue of Duke Kahanamoku located near the pier, I found it interesting to learn more about his life. I really only knew that he was a great and iconic surfer, I wasn't aware that he was an Olympic medalist. While there is some comments on the racism that Duke faced it isn't the main point of the story like some of the other books I've read. The story also mostly glosses over the financial hardships Duke faced except to point out that he choose to stay as an unpaid amateur in order to continue qualifying for the Olympic games. The story's text has a very uplifting, almost relaxing, quality to it that reflects the Hawaiian lifestyle wonderfully.
Use of Onomatopoeia: "BAM! The pistol shot rang out."
Use of Simile: "Wiggling like a little tadpole, Duke made his way back to the canoe."
Curricular Connection: 7th Grade Art
California Standards: (7.2) Creative Expression - Skills, Processes, Materials, and Tools [students could replicate the illustrator's techniques with gouache with colored pencil detailing to create their own drawings]. Connections and Applications (7.5.1) Study the music and art of a selected historical era and create a multimedia presentation that reflects that time and culture [Study of art deco, Hawaiian music, & Duke's time period in America]. (7.5.3) Examine art, photography, and other two and three-dimensional images, comparing how different visual representations of the same object lead to different interpretations of its meaning, and describe or illustrate the results [Students compare photos, and videos of Duke surfing to the illustrations and statues of Duke].
No comments:
Post a Comment