Surfer of the Century : : the Life of Duke Kahanamoku

Locations
Call Number: J 921 Kahanamoku, Duke
On Shelf At: Downtown Library

Location & Checkout Length	Call Number	Checkout Length	Item Status
Downtown Kids Books 4-week checkout	J 921 Kahanamoku, Duke	4-week checkout	On Shelf

A brief biography of Hawaiian Duke Kahanamoku, five-time Olympic swimming champion from the early 1900s who is also considered worldwide as the 'father of modern surfing'.

REVIEWS & SUMMARIES

School Library Journal Review
Booklist Review
Summary / Annotation

COMMUNITY REVIEWS

Spirit of Aloha submitted by Xris on June 19, 2021, 11:26pm Nice to learn about this wonderful man and his love of swimming and surfing in the water. Glad he had some people to back him up when he was being discriminated against.

A Revolutionary Waterman submitted by Meginator on August 21, 2021, 10:15am This picture book biography of Duke Kahanamoku presents a somewhat formal introduction to one of the most influential athletic figures of all time. The story follows Kahanamoku from his childhood in Honolulu to his important role in revolutionizing competitive swimming techniques and popularizing surfing around the world, emphasizing the ways in which his Hawaiian heritage influenced his journey and acknowledging the racism he faced in the mainland United States and elsewhere. Though the book focuses on Kahanamoku himself, Crowe connects his story to broader questions about cultural identity and Hawaiian history that interested readers can pursue in other contexts. The illustrations use carefully blended, slightly fuzzy coloring to create beautiful and evocative depictions of water, although the quality of the character design is a bit uneven. Altogether, this is a nice introduction to Duke Kahanamoku, who perhaps doesn’t get enough mainstream credit for his lasting influence in and out of the water.