Close Menu
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram Pinterest LinkedIn YouTube TikTok
    • Home
    • Submission Guidelines
    • Advertise
    • Mentorship
    • Editing Services
    • About
    • Contact
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram Pinterest TikTok
    The Children's Book Review
    Subscribe
    • Books by Subject
    • Books by Age
      • Ages 0-3, Infant and Toddler
      • Ages 4-8, Preschool to Elementary
      • Ages 9-12, Preteen and Tween
      • Ages 12+, Teen and Young Adult
      • Books for First Grade Readers
      • Books for Second Grade Readers
      • Books for Third Grade Readers
    • Favorites
      • Diverse and Inclusive Books
      • Books About Activism
      • Best Books for Kids
      • Star Wars Books
      • Board Books
      • Books About Mindfulness
      • Dr. Seuss Books
    • Showcase
    • Interviews
      • Growing Readers Podcast
      • Author Interviews and Q&A
      • Illustrator Interviews
    • Kids’ Book Giveaways
    • Directory
    • Podcast
    The Children's Book Review

    3 Kids Books About Sharks Perfect for Young Marine Biologists

    Denise MealyBy Denise Mealy6 Mins Read Ages 4-8 Ages 9-12 Animal Books Best Kids Stories Book Lists Environment & Ecology Picture Books Science
    Kids Books About Sharks Young Marine Biologists SHawn Loves Sharks
    Share
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

    The Children’s Book Review | July 23, 2016

    Celebrate Shark Week with These Kids Books About Sharks

    Got a young marine biologist or, more specifically, an ichthyologist (a biologist that studies species of fish, sharks, or rays) in your house? It’s time to dive right into these incredible kids books about sharks.


    Super Shark EncyclopediaSuper Shark Encyclopedia and Other Creatures of the Deep

    What to expect: Sharks, undersea creatures, facts, science, STEM

    Nothing captures the imagination of children quite like sharks. Those teeth, those eyes, that flash of fins! This beautiful encyclopedia covers every shark you’ve ever heard of, plus quite a few other sharks (and sea-dwelling creatures) you haven’t.

    First and foremost, this is an encyclopedia, and it is full of facts. For children who adore memorizing weights and eating habits of creatures big and small, this book has you covered. But for children who are more visual, this encyclopedia really delivers. Lush, beautiful full-color pictures of each animal spread across oversize pages to immerse young readers and adults into the world of these beautiful and misunderstood creatures.

    And it’s not just basic facts we learn about the sharks – it’s the fun, off the wall (and the better to impress their little friends) facts, too! Did you know that the Thresher Shark whips its tail so fast that the water actually boils at the tail’s tip? Or that a powerful Bull Shark head-butt’s its prey before chomping down?

    But sharks are more than Hollywood eating machines. This encyclopedia shows the more tender side, too. Lemon Sharks return to the same lagoon every two years to give birth in the same place where they themselves were born. Who knew sharks were so sentimental? Or maybe that’s just instinct.

    Teeth aside, sharks are wondrous creatures, and this terrific encyclopedia will fascinate children already in love with sea creatures, and perhaps spark the interest of budding marine biologists. The photography is beautiful and highly engaging, and the facts are simple and intriguing. Many an afternoon can be whiled away flipping through the colorful pages of this excellent book. Highly recommended.

    Order a Copy Now: Indiebound | Amazon | Barnes and Noble

    Ages 5+ | Publisher: DK Childrens | 2015 | ISBN-13: 978-1465435842


    Shawn Loves SharksShawn Loves Sharks

    Written by Curtis Manley

    Illustrated by Tracy Subisak

    What to expect: Sharks, friendship

    Shawn Loves Sharks. I mean, loves them. He chomps like one. He dresses like one. And he chases other kids around the playground pretending to chomp at their heels like one.

    One day his teacher assigns every child a predator animal to learn about. “I get the shark! I get the shark!” Shawn cries. Alas, it is not to be. Instead he picks – The seal.

    Not only is a seal most definitely not a shark, but seals are what sharks eat. And Stacy gets the Great White Shark. It isn’t fair.

    But the more that Shawn reads about seals, the cooler he realizes they are. They’re sleek, fast and can dodge a shark like Stacy’s Great White. Stacy, learning all the cool things about sharks, starts to chase Shawn around the playground the way he used to chase others. And Shawn doesn’t really like it. They get in to a tiff on who is the cooler animal: shark or seal? In the end, though, Shawn realizes maybe sharks and seals can be friends after all. He and Stacy learn that there is more than one kind of way to be friends.

    This is an absolutely adorable book about a little boy who loves sharks almost as much as life itself. We’ve all known the child in the midst of obsession. Between themed clothing/books/playtime, a child can really get caught up in their own passion for something exciting. But when it means we can’t be friends with others, it’s time to take a step back like Shawn does. Besides, we don’t always get exactly what we want, and Shawn learns that lesson perfectly. In fact, he grows through his disappointment and finds that seals can be just as exciting.

    The illustrations are bright and draw children in to the familiar world of the playground. The text strikes a great balance and doesn’t get too wordy. The characters are wonderfully diverse, and the way the children make up in the end is a perfect lesson without being too preachy. Highly recommended.

    Order a Copy Now: Indiebound | Amazon | Barnes and Noble

    Ages 4+ | Publisher: Roaring Brook Press | 2017 | ISBN-13: 9781626721340


    If Sharks DisappearedIf Sharks Disappeared

    Written and Illustrated by Lily Williams

    What to expect: Sharks, Ecology, Marine Biology

    IF SHARKS DISAPPEARED is an enlightening book about the critical role of sharks in our oceans.

    The ocean is home to many things – come cute and squishy, and some scary! Children might find sharks frightening, but author Lily Williams invites us to learn more about the shark and how they affect the environment on a grand scale. If there were no sharks to prey on the weak animals, there would be a shortage of fish. And if that happened, plankton would turn the oceans to a red soupy mess! The book goes on to show how eventually it would affect the whole world, including us. Using the concept of Trophic Cascade, Williams demonstrates how the world is much better with sharks in it. And sharks are beautiful and wild and free in their own way, and deserve our respect, not our fear.

    This is a big, but important, topic for children. Understanding that everything in the world has meaning, even the sometimes scary shark, helps them visualize how what they do matters. If we don’t take steps to help protect sharks, many of which are at risk for extinction, the world would miss them. At the end of the book there are steps that children can take to help sharks, which is very exciting and keeping with the tone of the book. What a fun class project any one of the steps could be: becoming involved with shark advocacy programs, creating shark artwork, and writing letters to lawmakers to urge them to pass shark-protecting laws.The illustrations are beautiful, showing the wonder of the ocean in dazzlingly deep paint strokes. Williams’ terrific pairing of eye-catching illustrations and hard facts will keep even younger readers glued to the page. I also appreciated the diverse cast in humans.

    A fantastic addition to the library of any classroom. Highly recommended.

    Order a Copy Now: Indiebound | Amazon | Barnes and Noble

    Ages 4-10 | Publisher: Roaring Brook Press | May 16, 2017 | ISBN-13: 978-1626724136


    *Header image illustration from Shawn Loves Sharks, written by Curtis Manley and llustrated by Tracy Subisak (Roaring Book Press 2017)

    3 Kids Books About Sharks Perfect for Young Marine Biologists were reviewed by Denise Mealy. Discover more books like If Sharks Disappeared, Shawn Loves Sharks, and Super Shark Encyclopedia by following along with our reviews and articles tagged with Biology and Sharks.

    What to Read Next:

    1. 2 Non-Fiction Books That Introduce Readers to Animals and Their Environments
    2. 3 Stunning Kids Books About the Ocean
    3. I Am the Shark, by Joan Holub | Dedicated Review
    4. Best Non-Fiction Picture Books of 2014

    *Disclosure: Please note that this post may contain affiliate links that share some commission. Rest assured that these will not affect the cost of any products and services promoted here. Our team always provides their authentic opinion in all content published on this site.

    Biology Curtis Manley DK Childrens Lilly Williams Marine Biology Roaring Brook Press Shark Week Sharks Tracy Subisak
    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    Previous ArticleJK Rowling’s Wizarding World: The Dark Arts: A Movie Scrapbook | Book Review
    Next Article Disruptor: Seeker: Book 3, by Arwen Elys Dayton | Book Review
    Denise Mealy
    • Website
    • X (Twitter)

    Denise Mealy is a former web content provider who stays at home to change diapers and write books. Her days are filled with Word documents, books and sloppy kisses (from dogs and baby alike). She likes to read, cook, dance, travel and forward pictures of spam sculptures to friends. If she could have dinner with any author, dead or alive, it would be a toss up between J.K. Rowling and Jane Austen. They would probably eat pasta. Yes, definitely pasta. For more information, visit: www.dccmealy.com You can also find her on Twitter: @dccmealy

    1 Comment

    1. Pingback: Recent Book Reviews! IF ELEPHANTS DISAPPEARED | Prologue – DCC Mealy

    Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    TCBR Supporter
    Recent Articles
    • An Interview with Liz Kessler, Author of the ‘Emily Windsnap’ Series
    • Simone LaFray and the Bishop of Mumbai | Dedicated Review
    • Inspirational Soccer Book for Kids Compilation: 2 Books In 1: Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Kylian Mbappe, and Alex Morgan biographies for kids – Plus 101 Affirmations and Mental Training For Young Players | Dedicated Review
    • Animals Feeling Like Us, by R. M. Smith | Book Review
    • I Am Not Sophie, by Robyn Hodess | Book Review
    TCBR Supporters
    sponsored | become a TCBR supporter today
    sponsored | become a TCBR supporter today

    sponsored | become a TCBR supporter today
    sponsored | become a TCBR supporter today
    Discover Kids Books by Age
    Best Books For Kids
    Media Kit: The Children's Book Review
    Author and Illustrator Showcase
    SEARCH
    BOOKS BY SUBJECT
    Archives
    Professional Resources

    Book Marketing Campaigns

    Writing Coaches and Editing Services

    Mentorship

    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram Pinterest YouTube LinkedIn TikTok
    • Submission Guidelines
    • Policies
    • Advertise
    • TCBR Buzzworthy Mentions
    • About TCBR
    © 2025 The Children’s Book Review. All rights reserved.

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.