Walker Nature Storybooks Surprising Sharks

Find out what sharks are really like in this fun, informative picture book, part of the new "Nature Storybooks" series.The last word you want to hear when you're swimming in the warm blue sea is "SHARK!" But most real sharks are not what you might expect. Some are no bigger than a chocolate bar, some have built-in fairy lights and most wouldn't go near a human, even if you were wearing a sign saying "dinner"! So if you think all sharks are giant, man-eating killers, you're in for a big surprise. "Surprising Sharks" has been re-launched in the new "Nature Storybooks" series with a brand new look. Editorial Reviews From School Library Journal Grade 1-3-The major premise of this book is that sharks vary greatly in size and shape. The front and back endpapers capture the dwarf lantern shark at just 6 inches in length, the whale shark measuring more than 39 feet, and many other species between these extremes. Although in some cases the colorful acrylic-and-pastel pictures show slightly anthropomorphized creatures, readers can glean their basic anatomical features. Varying print size emphasizes concepts and creates drama and aesthetic interest. The text highlights unusual features of lesser-known sharks, and two spreads show internal and external similarities among all sharks. The book is chock-full of fascinating information about "sharkish" behavior, which for only 3 of the 500 types of sharks includes attacking humans with any regularity. Davies concludes with a notion that these animals have much more to fear from humans than vice versa. Although many of today's young shark enthusiasts insist on full-color photographs, the attractiveness of the typefaces, the anatomical diagrams, and the interesting facts presented here should help this title make a splash. Lynda Ritterman, Atco Elementary School, Waterford, NJ Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title. From Booklist K-Gr. 3. Davies manages to impart a remarkable amount of information about sharks in this picture-book science volume, which emphasizes that sharks come in a variety of shapes and sizes and most are not dangerous. What's more, Croft's bright, humorous artwork (including a great picture of the Australian wobbegong shark sneaking up on a pair of smiling crabs) and the clever layout will make this a first choice for many young children. The double-page spread diagrams showing labeled parts of the shark, inside and outside, are also especially nice. The main text appears in good-size display type, with added tidbits placed around the pages in smaller print. Solid nonfiction on a popular subject for a young age group. Todd Morning Copyright å© American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.