Sharks

The author invites you to get your teeth into sharks - before they get their teeth into you. He presents news and views on the ocean's oldest and meanest predators, including gory tales of shark attacks, presented in the form of a pupil's term project.

Grade 4-7?The grandeur of the shark shines through in this neon-colored, spiral-bound presentation. Cardboard covers enclose easy-to-access, tabbed chapters with such titles as "Shocking Shark Stories," "Confidential Crime Files," and "Database: Shark Profile." All of the chapters are formatted differently. The first one uses newsprint layout and narrative to introduce the most sensationalist aspect of shark behavior?attacks on humans. A fold-out cartoon of a shark "casing" an urban beach on one side is faced by a world map pinpointing shark attacks. "Confidential Crime Files" gives a short overview of the animals, explains how they differ from other fish, and then briefly describes different species and individual sharks. The graphics are clever and the attention grabbing. The third chapter is formatted like a Web site on a computer screen. Reproduction is covered in a Miss Frizzle-like chapter, and the "Ready Reference" section contains random interesting facts. Solid fun!?Frances E. Millhouser, Chantilly Regional Library, VA
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.