Sharks

Children's Literature - Beverley Fahey

Emerging readers who want to stretch their reading muscle with nonfiction will find this new series, "Amazing Animals," informative. There are many fascinating facts including the fact that sharks can be as small as a child's hand or a big as a bus. Most people may not be aware that some sharks lay eggs or if they do not keep swimming they will sink. The information is simply presented and the large font makes it very accessible. Readers will learn about the animal's physical appearance, its natural habitat, and its behaviors. Well-composed, captioned color photographs that are often dramatic are on every page and directly link to the text. New words appear in bold, and the definition is at the bottom of the page on which the word first appears. The book concludes with a retelling of a pourquoi tale from the Cook Islands that explains why sharks have a bump in their head. This crossover element will appeal to teachers who seek to illustrate the link between cultural beliefs expressed through storytelling and scientific fact. This is an excellent choice for public, school, and home libraries. Reviewer: Beverley Fahey