If Sharks Disappeared by Lily Williams

image source: Amazon.com

If Sharks Disappeared by Lily Williams (2017)

by AHK

Oof, this lovely book presents a pretty bleak future if we don't take care of our world. Using straightforward easy-to-understand yet scientific language, the narrator illustrates what would happen if we lost an apex predator like sharks and how that would impact all life on earth, including humans. The young girl on the cover appears throughout the book, often with her family, providing an emotional stand-in for readers as they process the facts presented. Fortunately, the book ends on a hopeful and positive note--for now. This is a great choice for classrooms and STEM programs.

Themes/topics: sharks, oceans, STEM, predators, ecosystems

Sample text from two spreads: 

Sharks are apex predators, which means they are at the top of the food chain in their ecosystem, the ocean. Losing an apex predator species can cause devastating effects in an environment. 

Today, roughly between one-fourth and one-third of shark species are vulnerable to extinction because of overfishing. What could happen if this continues and sharks disappear altogether? If sharks disappeared...

Shawn Loves Sharks by Curtis Manley pictures by Tracy Subisak

Shawn Loves Sharks by Curtis Manley pictures by Tracy Subisak (2017)

Shawn loves sharks. No, he really loves sharks. But when the predator project at school is announced, Shawn gets...Leopard Seal. And Stacy, his favorite person to torment when pretending to be a shark at recess, gets Great White Shark. Sharks eat Seals. But Shawn learns to appreciate seals, and enjoys running from the Shark, er, Stacy during recess. Shawn goes from being a great shark, to a great seal, to a great friend. A sweet story about predators, open-mindedness, friendship and sharing, this would be a good fit for school visits, classroom read-alouds, and older storytimes.


Themes/Topics: sharks, friendship, sea, ocean, school visits, school stories

Sample text from two spreads:
At home, Shawn looked through his shark books hoping that what he remembered about sharks and seals was wrong. It wasn't wrong.
He hoped Stacy wouldn't find out. She found out.

Tuesday on the playground, Stacy leaned close and said, "Did you know that sharks eat seals?" Shawn nodded. "But not if they can't catch them!"
Stacy opened her mouth very wide and ran as fast as she could, but she couldn't catch Shawn. 

Max Speed

Max Speed by Stephen Shaskan (2016)

One of the cutest little daredevils you’ve ever seen, Max Speed gets his room clean just in time for adventure. Hopping into his zippy red roadsters, he zooms along facing various road blocks with ingenuity and aplomb. With tons of action words, and repeating phrases like, “Had Max met his match?” and “Just in time,” this one is a storytime win. Great fun-Highly recommended!

Themes/topics: Superheros, problem solving, adventure, sharks, imagination, mothers

Sample text from four spreads,

Max feel gently down into…/

SHARK-INFESTED WATERS!

[speech bubble] ‘GREAT GADZOOKS!’

Had Max met his match? /

Just in time, Max spoke his super-secret shark language, “Sharky-shark-shark. Shark, shark-shark, sharky-shark. Shark, shark?” /

The sharks showed Max the way to the super-secret underground cave.