Angelou Maya - Mayas World Mikale of Hawaii

Text copyright 2004 by Maya Angelou. Illustrations copyright 2004 by Lizzy Rockwell. All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. Published in the United States by Random House Childrens Books, a division of Random House, Inc., New York, and simultaneously in Canada by Random House of Canada Limited, Toronto.
randomhouse.com/kids
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Angelou, Maya. Mikale of Hawaii / by Maya Angelou; illustrated by Lizzy Rockwell. 1st ed. p. cm. (A Random House pictureback)
SUMMARY: Mikale, a young Hawaiian boy, learns to swim with help from his uncle.
ISBN 978-0-375-82835-5 (trade)
ISBN 978-0-375-92835-2 (lib. bdg.)
ISBN 978-0-449-81832-9 (ebook)
[1. FearFiction. 2. SwimmingFiction. 3. UnclesFiction. 4. HawaiiFiction.] I. Rockwell, Lizzy, ill. II. Title. III. Series.
PZ7.A5833Mi 2004 [E]dc22 2003025077
PICTUREBACK, RANDOM HOUSE , and the Random House colophon are registered trademarks of Random House, Inc.

v3.1

When I was a little girl,

I looked around at my world.

It was small, so was I.

Then my world began to grow

With each child I came to know.

Now I try,

Now I dare

To make a new friend

Everywhere.

L et me tell you about my friend Mikale. He lives on the beautiful island of Oahu in Hawaii with his parents, his baby sister Leilani, and a pet fish. One day, Mikales fish told me a story. You may not know that fish can talk, but they are good storytellers if you listen closely. And now I will tell you the story that Keikila the fish told me.

You see, Mikale had the same nickname as his fishKeikilameaning that he was part boy, part fish. Of course he wasnt, but he did swim very well. This was not always so. When Mikale was younger, he was afraid of the ocean.

Every time his family went to a luau (which is a Hawaiian feast) by the shore, Mikale begged to stay in the car. His mother would kiss him and say, Come now. His father would have to carry him down to the beach.

Mikale would sit in the sand and play with seashells. Sometimes his father would take him by the hand and they would walk along the beach or sometimes they would stop and make sand castles.

But still Mikale wouldnt go in the water.

Then Uncle Mako came to visit. He was a champion swimmer. He looked straight into Mikales eyes and asked, Are you the boy who is afraid of the ocean?

Embarrassed, Mikale said, Yes.

I brought you a gift, said Uncle Mako. Come and see.

In the living room was a fish tank with one small fish in it. He said, This is Keikila. You must feed him, keep his water fresh, and talk to him every day.

What would I say? Mikale wanted to know.

Just tell him why you are afraid of the ocean and listen to what he says. He knows more about swimming than I do, said Uncle Mako.

The next day, Mikales uncle took him to a swimming pool and asked him if he was afraid of the water in a bathtub.

No! Mikale answered, giggling.

Then he asked whether Mikale was afraid of the pool. A little, Mikale said.

Well, said Uncle Mako. This is where well start. Just think of it as a big bathtub.

Uncle Mako jumped off the diving board and did two flips. Then he swam up and down the pool. When he came up for air, he asked, Do you believe I can swim well enough to protect you?

Mikale nodded yes.

Uncle Mako held Mikales hand as he stepped into the shallow end.

Get on my back and put your arms around my neck. Ill swim a few laps with you. He ducked under the water so Mikale could climb on.

Uncle Mako swam back and forth until Mikale felt as though he was doing the swimming. It was fun!

That first day, Mikale learned to tread water. That is where you kick and kick your legs to stay afloat. Uncle Mako also taught Mikale how to float on his back and how to put his face in the water and blow out bubbles. Mikale was good at it. He learned that if you are not afraid, water can be your friend.

Which is exactly what he told Keikila later that day. Then he asked, Whats it like to be a fish? Keikila blew a bubblebloop!and Mikale knew just what he meant.

The next day at the pool, Uncle Mako introduced Mikale to his friend Annemarie.

I hear you are doing very well with your swimming lessons, she said. Come on, Mako. Lets take Mikale for a swim!

They got on either side of Mikale and held him up so he glided along. He felt very secure. They swam up and down the pool, with Mikale moving his arms and legs as though he was swimming all by himself!