From School Library Journal
Grade 2-4-Each of these slim volumes has a page of text facing a full-color photograph. Baby Sharks provides a clear explanation of the three different kinds of embryo development found among sharks and describes how the young survive on their own from the time of birth. Chasing Sharks and Killer Sharks, Killer People attempt to dispel the unwarranted fears people hold about potential attacks. They also introduce various products made from parts of sharks. What is mystifying is why these two books weren't combined into a single, more substantial volume. Shark Camouflage and Armor explores the topics identified in its title. The remaining two books offer brief introductions to various sharks and their relatives, information that can be found in many beginning books on the subject. There is a great deal of overlap among all of these titles. Most of the Web addresses are current, although locating the information relevant to sharks is not always straightforward. Libraries with other basic books about sharks may want to assess the need for additional resources on the subject. Most of the topics covered here can be found in Brett Westwood's Great White Shark (RSVP, 2000) and Susan Brocker's Sharks (Forest House, 1998).Kathy Piehl, Minnesota State University, Mankato Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Very Big Sharks FROM THE CRITICS
Children's Literature
This six-book series divides shark information traditionally (babies, kinds, sizes, camouflage) and not-so-traditionally (killer people, chasing sharks). Color photographs face text, and the clear headings, informational captions and endmatter all assist the reader to learn more. Endmatter includes some well-chosen books, places to contact, web sites, a glossary and an index. In this volume, the authors discuss ten very big sharks, nine still with us and one extinct (megalodon, a shark thoroughly discussed in Caroline Arnold's Giant Shark: Megalodon, Prehistoric Super Predator. Others include the white, whale, basking, tiger, sleeper, hammerhead, thresher and bigmouth sharks. No chart accompanies the text but children could make an astounding visual by measuring out yarn lengths of these immense creatures. While Mary Cerullo's single species shark book, The Truth about Great White Sharks and Laurence Pringle's Sharks! Strange and Wonderful! do a better job of developing a sense of wonder and providing details of anatomy, this entry in the series provides other interesting facts in short, easy-to-access format, about a topic of great interest to children—what is big? How big? This volume stands alone but benefits from being a part of the series. Part of the "An Imagination Library" series. 2001, Gareth Stevens, $19.93. Ages 7 to 10. Reviewer: Susan Hepler
School Library Journal
Gr 2-4-Each of these slim volumes has a page of text facing a full-color photograph. Baby Sharks provides a clear explanation of the three different kinds of embryo development found among sharks and describes how the young survive on their own from the time of birth. Chasing Sharks and Killer Sharks, Killer People attempt to dispel the unwarranted fears people hold about potential attacks. They also introduce various products made from parts of sharks. What is mystifying is why these two books weren't combined into a single, more substantial volume. Shark Camouflage and Armor explores the topics identified in its title. The remaining two books offer brief introductions to various sharks and their relatives, information that can be found in many beginning books on the subject. There is a great deal of overlap among all of these titles. Most of the Web addresses are current, although locating the information relevant to sharks is not always straightforward. Libraries with other basic books about sharks may want to assess the need for additional resources on the subject. Most of the topics covered here can be found in Brett Westwood's Great White Shark (RSVP, 2000) and Susan Brocker's Sharks (Forest House, 1998).-Kathy Piehl, Minnesota State University, Mankato Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.
Art & Photography
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