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Overview
One of the world's experts on hammerhead sharks, marine biologist Pete Klimley is fighting the stereotype of sharks as primitive and vicious killers. In fact, hammerheads exhibit some remarkably sophisticated social behaviors, including their schooling in the hundreds at underwater seamounts in the Pacific Ocean.
To tell the story of these incredible animals, author Ken Mallory talked with Pete Klimley and then traveled to tiny Cocos Island, 330 miles off the Pacific coast of Costa Rica. There, he had the chance of a lifetime to see these awe-inspiring animals up close.
Synopsis
One of the world's experts on hammerhead sharks, marine biologist Pete Klimley is fighting the stereotype of sharks as primitive and vicious killers. In fact, hammerheads exhibit some remarkably sophisticated social behaviors, including their schooling in the hundreds at underwater seamounts in the Pacific Ocean.
To tell the story of these incredible animals, author Ken Mallory talked with Pete Klimley and then traveled to tiny Cocos Island, 330 miles off the Pacific coast of Costa Rica. There, he had the chance of a lifetime to see these awe-inspiring animals up close.
Children's Literature
Although the title of this book may make some readers squeamish, it is, in fact, an exciting and informative investigation into the lives of these dangerous creatures. The author traveled with an expert marine biologist to a tiny island off the coast of Costa Rica. Along with the skills of talented photographers, they put together a story of their travels, which includes a close-up look at the hammerhead shark. Whether alone or in schools of 100, these fierce creatures are awe-inspiring. Unfortunately, however, sharks may soon become endangered. Factors such as their accidental capture in fishing nets or the taking of their fins for shark-fin soup are contributing to their rapid population decline. Readers of this well-written and interesting book will develop a new respect and appreciation for all sharks. 2001, Houghton Mifflin, $16.00. Ages 10 up. Reviewer: Denise Daley
Editorials
Children's Literature
Although the title of this book may make some readers squeamish, it is, in fact, an exciting and informative investigation into the lives of these dangerous creatures. The author traveled with an expert marine biologist to a tiny island off the coast of Costa Rica. Along with the skills of talented photographers, they put together a story of their travels, which includes a close-up look at the hammerhead shark. Whether alone or in schools of 100, these fierce creatures are awe-inspiring. Unfortunately, however, sharks may soon become endangered. Factors such as their accidental capture in fishing nets or the taking of their fins for shark-fin soup are contributing to their rapid population decline. Readers of this well-written and interesting book will develop a new respect and appreciation for all sharks. 2001, Houghton Mifflin, $16.00. Ages 10 up. Reviewer: Denise DaleySchool Library Journal
Gr 4-8-An exceptional addition to a fine se-ries that carries the same hallmark of quality as its predecessors. Mallory's readable text follows the swim fins of marine biologist Pete Klimley and an IMAX film team to seamounts off Cocos Island in the Pacific Ocean to observe and film schooling ham-merhead sharks. The author recounts earlier investigations Klimley made trying to dis-cover the connections among seamounts, the Earth's magnetic field, and the sharks' migratory patterns in the sea, showing just how scientists put laboratory theses to the proof in the field. A fascinating record of re-search and investigation, this inviting book is larded with numerous dramatic color pho-tos. Full of hammerhead data as well, it will be a useful tool for young report writers as well as a good read, and may well inspire some children to turn to marine biology or photography as a lifelong interest.-Patricia Manning, formerly at Eastchester Public Li-brary, NY Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.Kirkus Reviews
Investigating the hammerhead shark for a new IMAX movie, Mallory, of the New England Aquarium, dives with oceanographer Pete Klimley to study hammerheads off the coast of Baja California and with the IMAX crew off the coast of Costa Rica. According to the author, there are nine species of hammerhead sharks, each with a distinctively shaped head. Hammerheads are the brainiest of the sharks, and unlike other shark species, frequently travel in groups of several hundred. Scientists are studying why they travel in schools and how they migrate and find their way to an undersea mountain without visual landmarks. The text is full of quotes from working scientists explaining how they observe, hypothesize, conduct experiments, and use new high-tech equipment such as ultrasonic telemetry tags and diving gear like the closed-circuit re-breather apparatus (that avoids creating bubbles, which disturb the sharks). The text is enlivened with striking underwater photographs of the sharks and divers. There are awesome deep-blue photographs of schooling hammerheads, dancing on their tails and rising vertically like some alien black calligraphy. It must take a special kind of scientist to don a black-and-white dive suit with fins to resemble a killer whale in order to dive with the orcas, but even armchair travelers can enjoy this undersea science adventure. Includes further reading and an index. A welcome addition to the Scientists in the Field series. (Nonfiction. 10-12)From the Publisher
An exceptional addition to a fine series that carries the same hallmark of quality as its predecessors. Mallory's readable text follows the swim fins of marine biologist Pete Klimley and an IMAX film team to seamounts off Cocos Island in the Pacific Ocean to observe and film schooling hammerheads. . . . Full of hammerhead data as well, it will be a useful tool for young report writers as well as a good read, and may well inspire some children to turn to marine biology or photography as a lifelong interest.School Library Journal, Starred