For anyone who missed these, this book is a good introduction to the expedition. Some favorite illustrations include: the author (face with a beret but no mouth in the background) interceding with Panama’s customs police for a gun-toting Norwegian who wants to keep his weapon our first glimpse of crewmember Bengt Danielsson in the streets of Lima (a beard and a small line for a nose) a very large dolphin fish with the very small raft the odd plankton that the author likens to a guitar the rubber raft providing a “getaway” for a crewmember needing a break the toothy snake-fish in the sleeping bag a bare-butt crewmember with rubber raft of supplies in tow after landing the grass-skirted Polynesian dancer persuading the author, looking rather faun-like, to join her and the crew and FDR perusing a large globe.Īnyone who liked “The Kon-Tiki Expedition” book or the 2012 movie will like this. His all-cap lettering is very even and includes raised caps at the beginning of sentences for increased readability, though the all-cap style urges us to slow down and contemplate the story. He also hand-lettered the entire book, including the title and copyright pages. He sees humor in all things, and this comes across in both his writing and his smile-worthy illustrations. Hesselberg excels at capturing the essence of a particular person with just a few pen strokes.

Hesselberg is equally skilled at drawing maps, illustrating technical aspects of the raft, extreme detail in drawing denizens of the deep, and caricature of the Kon-Tiki crew and others that he meets-including Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Instead the book focuses on the building of the raft, the time at sea, the landing on Raroia, and the journey home. In fact, there is little about navigation and nothing about the fact that he was the only experienced seaman on board. It tells about the Kon-Tiki expedition from the navigator’s viewpoint, except that Hesselberg is not the typical navigator. Purportedly for children, this book is also entertaining for adults, particularly those who appreciate whimsical art and stories of great adventures.

Kon tiki and i book