Wandering Whale Sharks

PreS-Gr 1—Instead of glistening rows of terrible teeth, frothy waves, and the gruesome Jaws-inspired action scenes readers have come to expect from shark books, here Shingu offers children a mellow meditation set in the deep blue depths—wholly appropriate for a profile of this gentle giant. Employing spare text infused with rich vocabulary and poetic imagery, Shingu introduces readers to the largest living fish on Earth, the majestic whale shark. Swimming only 2.5 miles per hour and feeding on plankton and shellfish, the whale shark provides safety and shelter for many smaller fish. Using shades of aquamarine, cerulean, and black, Shingu varies perspective, showing the creature from underneath ("His abdomen is like a white balloon."), from the vantage point of his wide back ("like a mountain range"), and rising toward the surface to swallow enormous gulps of water in his "extraordinarily huge mouth." Never scary, the dark palette and contemplative prose at once evoke both a sense of coziness (the animal is "a comfortable home for suckerfish") and reflect the expansiveness of the deep ocean. For librarians looking to introduce informational picture books in storytime, the brevity and strong artwork make this title ideal. Early elementary students working on ocean units may also find this useful as an inspirational jumping-off point for further research.