Sharks

A sharp, gray fin pokes above the ocean's surface and races forward. It's a great white shark—the terror of the sea. While these sharks have attacked humans in the past, usually it's because the sharks are mistaking people for their natural prey, seals. Because of this, many sharks have received a bad reputation, even though 80 percent of shark species could never hurt humans. Humans are actually more dangerous to sharks, as people are disrupting sharks' habitats, hunting their prey and even hunting sharks themselves. Some shark species are in danger of extinction. Learn more in this edition of Nature Watch

Children's Literature

Sharks are one of the most misunderstood animals on earth. It was for this reason that Berman decided to write this book as part of the "Nature Watch" series. It is filled with interesting facts about the early ancestors of the shark family, the many different types of sharks, the animal's anatomy and reproduction, and the effect of people on the fragile environment of these creatures. After reading this book and seeing the excellent photographs included, children may have a better understanding and a greater respect for this fascinating marine animal. Glossary and index included.

Ruth Berman earned a B.A. in English from the University of Minnesota and turned her love of animals into a career. She has worked for the Sierra Club and for the Zoological Society of Philadelphia, and she has authored a number of young science titles for Lerner. Her first book, American Bison, was chosen as an Outstanding Science Trade Book for Children.