Please Be Nice to Sharks: Fascinating Facts About the Ocean's Most Misunderstood Creatures

Gr 3–5—Did you know that humans kill more than 100 million sharks each year, but only about five people are killed by sharks? This book maintains that by having an understanding of these magnificent creatures, we can better preserve them and our beloved oceans. Each page presents a different shark species, ranging from the familiar great white to the rocky-looking wobbegong shark. Each shark introduces itself with a friendly opener like "Ahoy, matey!" and goes on to give a bit about its identifying features, traits, and abilities (for instance, the blue shark says, "I'm pretty easy to recognize because I've got a big ol' nose and nice blue skin."). Every entry concludes with a plea to "be nice to sharks!" Educators could use this as a mentor text to model the technique of "voice" in creative writing, as each shark speaker tends to have its own personality. The large, crisp photos that accompany the text give readers a chance to look into the eyes of the shark: a useful way to invoke empathy. Of the 14 sharks featured, three take up an entire spread (the great white, Caribbean reef, and lemon shark) along with a sidebar listing average length, weight, diet, and other specific facts. Back matter includes a "How To Be Nice to Sharks" note warning readers to avoid shark fin soup and seafood caught by big fishing fleets.