Sharks! (TFK Science Scoops Series)

Booklist

" … clean, striking design … "

Booklist

“ … clean, striking design … ”

Children's Literature

This new series of early readers, "Time for Kids Science Scoops," is taken from material prepared by the editors along with Adrienne Betz. Like any other early reader series, the books are leveled—Level 1 is targeted for beginning readers, Level 2 for developing readers and Level 3 is designed for confident readers. The full-page photographs have text boxes superimposed, but the judicious layout of the text boxes is such that no important information is lost from the images. The books in the series are nonfiction and while the text is at times choppy and often just a litany of facts, they are interesting facts. Sharks are a very special kind of fish. They have rough skin and many have thousands of teeth that are used to rip apart prey. Their variety and size is quite astounding—from the huge whale shark to the tiny dwarf shark. In spite of the movies and scary articles that appear in the news, more people die from bee stings than shark attacks. The Level 1 books contain a words to know picture glossary, while Level two also adds a section of interesting factoids entitled "Did You Know?" Level 3 adds even another small section of "Fun Facts." Sharks! is a Level 3 book, guided reading level M-N, Spache reading level 2.06. Lesson plans can be found at www.harperteachers.com. 2005, HarperCollins, Ages 6 to 8.
—Marilyn Courtot

School Library Journal

Gr 2-3-A visually appealing format is the highlight of these easy readers. Each book consists of several chapters in which short paragraphs of large-print text are overlaid on color-photo spreads. Simply written sentences describe outstanding physical and behavioral characteristics shared by the animals, one or two distinctive characteristics of more than a dozen particular species, diet, birth of young, etc. Each title also profiles a scientist in the field; Sharks! includes a brief entry on a photographer as well. The photos are excellent; most are sharply defined, well-composed close-ups of representative species in their natural habitats. Smaller photos of additional species are superimposed on some of the spreads; all animals are identified in captions by common names. Each title also includes a simple diagram with labels attached to major body parts and captions describing their functions. Color is an important element throughout. Headings appear in contrasting colors, the text often is in white print to show up against the dark backgrounds of many of the photos, and a colorful double border runs across the top of each spread. Miscellaneous facts are offered in sidebars (e.g., one in Sharks offers safety tips for swimmers) and on the last few pages, along with a short, illustrated glossary. Both titles are aimed at a slightly younger audience than Laurence Pringle's more detailed Sharks!: Strange and Wonderful (2001) and Sandra Markle's excellent introduction to spider physiology, Spiders: Biggest! Littlest! (2004, both Boyds Mills) and will appeal to reluctant readers.-Karey Wehner, formerly at San Francisco Public Library Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.