Sharks

Starred review from April 1, 2018

Gr 3-7-Fascinating, detailed facts about a remarkable variety of sharks, coupled with fun, colorful artwork, make this latest entry in the series a winner. Shark enthusiasts will appreciate the specifics about adaptations and hunting techniques, while beginners will find the solid introductory material engaging. The book is cohesively organized by characteristics and species subdivisions. Browsers will easily locate information on a particular topic, but students will gain the most insight by reading the volume cover to cover. Woven throughout is a simple story of a fishing boat captain on the hunt for sharks while a scientist dispels many misconceptions about the animals. Flood addresses the lore and fear that surrounds these predators, most of it coming from literature and the media. Detailed illustrations complement the text beautifully, with close-ups of the various features of different sharks as well as useful diagrams and charts. VERDICT An accessible and inviting work, recommended for most libraries. Offer this one to fans of Lauren Tarshis's I Survived the Shark Attacks of 1916 for a more complete picture of these complex and intriguing creatures.-Jody Kopple, Shady Hill School, Cambridge, MA

Copyright 2018 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 1, 2019
This continuing series gives the graphic-novel treatment to an exploration of one of nature's top predators. The text is heavily loaded with shark facts and yet doesn't feel ponderous. Detailed illustrations rely on shades of blue and green to emphasize the aquatic nature of the topic. The comic-book layout is easy to read, breaking the text up into manageable chunks. Glos.

(Copyright 2019 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

March 15, 2018
Glimpses of historic and contemporary sharks help to stem the tide of misinformation.Looking at the world of sharks from its very earliest moments around 420 million years ago and from every conceivable angle, this entry in the Science Comics series unspools a fascinating history and jeopardized future for this oft-misunderstood predator. Profiles of individual shark species and shark ancestors intertwine with energetically illustrated facts about different types of sharks, their anatomy, their role in the environment, and more and aim not only to correct typical misinformation, but to make a case for these endangered creatures' continued survival. The effect is hampered somewhat by a few missteps in execution: Interesting digressions nonetheless feel like disorganization in layout, and there are some confusing inconsistencies in the text--"sharks are perfectly harmless to humans if left alone" and "what makes the great white truly terrifying is the shark's tendency to mistake humans for its own prey" are two claims that are difficult to reconcile even if they are both accurate. Also, despite the other visual and informational riches about sharks' vibrant world and how important their survival is to humans', young shark enthusiasts of color will unfortunately not find themselves reflected in any meaningful roles here.Informative, exciting, and, unlike sharks, just a bit disappointing. (foreword, partial glossary) (Graphic nonfiction. 8-12)

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