Sharks (What If)

Examines the world of fishes--from terrifying sharks to graceful seahorses--using a series of questions such as "What if a lungfish crawled out of the water?" and "What if a coral didn't build reefs?"

Grade 3-5?Parker presents information from the point of view of what if rather than why. Double-page spreads present various aspects of undersea life, including environmental issues, often using a question-and-answer format. The author does not necessarily specify where the animals or plants are found, e.g., "Common eels are actually born in the middle of the ocean" (no mention is made of the Sargasso Sea). The question "What if sharks didn't have teeth?" is illustrated with a drawing of a toothless shark, wrinkled mouth wrapped around a diver's leg. Many of the paragraphs contain substantive facts presented in entertaining, readable, informal language. However, no pronunciation guide is given for more difficult words such as cartilaginous or chondricthyes. Sometimes the facts are exaggerated and unsubstantiated, e.g., the gathering of the females' eggs into the brood pouches of sea horses and pipe fish is presented as male pregnancy. Also, not all sharks must continue swimming to stay afloat. The full-color illustrations are humorous rather than realistic. They often match and amplify the narrative, but occasionally go so far into humor as to be misleading, e.g., the sea horse is shown with a human baby riding its back. A one-page "fact file" contains shocking tidbits rather than a summary of facts, and the one-page index is not inclusive.?Frances E. Millhouser, Chantilly Regional Library, VA
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.