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

    Speed Interview with Joan Holub, Author of I Am the Shark

    Bianca SchulzeBy Bianca Schulze5 Mins Read Ages 4-8 Animal Books Author Interviews Best Kids Stories Humor Picture Books Reluctant Readers
    Speed Interview with Joan Holub Author of I Am the Shark
    Share
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

    A speed interview with Joan Holub, author of I Am the Shark
    The Children’s Book Review

    Joan Holub Head Shot

    Joan Holub has authored and/or illustrated over 150 children’s books, including the Goddess Girls middle grade series and the Heroes in Training chapter book series (with Suzanne Williams); This Little Environmentalist: A Love-the-Earth Primer board book; the New York Times bestselling picture book Mighty Dads, illustrated by James Dean; Little Red Writing, a picture book illustrated by Melissa Sweet; and Zero the Hero, a picture book illustrated by Tom Lichtenheld. She adores line dancing to the Jaws theme, reading Sharkspeare, and vacationing in Finland.

    Bianca Schulze: Which five words best describe I Am the Shark?

    Joan Holub: Sharks. Facts. Funny. Self-esteem. Jawsome!

    Can you share a highlight from the book? Or maybe your thoughts on, or an excerpt of, your favorite sentence, paragraph, or page?

    “Just be happy being you.” (says a super-small Lantern Shark to the Great White Shark) That’s my favorite line from the book—a message of self-acceptance.

    What has been the most rewarding reaction from a reader so far?

    I Am the Shark swims out into the world on May 4, 2021. The reception from booksellers has been great so far. Laurie Keller (Arnie the Doughnut and The Scrambled States of America) illustrated it, and since she is super-popular, that has helped garner lots of early interest. We’re doing some virtual appearances together soon. Readers can pre-order I Am the Shark to get a bookplate autographed by us both, including a little shark sketch by Laurie!

    I Am the Shark Illustration

    Please share your thoughts on why you feel books like I Am the Shark are great additions to a child’s home library.

    Kids (and grown-ups) often compare themselves to others, sometimes unfavorably. I want kids to feel confident in being who they are. I hope I Am the Shark’s message of self-acceptance helps to boost their confidence and self-esteem while making them laugh as they learn about sharks. Sharks are important to the health of our oceans and therefore to our overall environment. As predators, they help keep the earth’s ecosystem in balance. Which benefits us all!

    For your writing energy: sugar or salt, tea or coffee?

    Me. Want. Sugar. Always. (Tea biscuits, chocolate chip cookies, marzipan chocolates. Yum.)

    Writing tools: computer, pen and paper, or all of the above?

    All of the above.

    What’s on your nightstand? Any books?

    My nightstand contents: Ikea lamp, phone, paper and purple felt-tip pen in case brilliant ideas strike in the night. In the mornings, I often laugh at or puzzle-over the random notes-to-self I scribbled overnight, though. I read in the evenings, so our books live in the great room.

    What’s the last thing you experienced that made you laugh or cry?

    Recently, we watched the film My Life As A Dog. Really good, but it brought major tears. Lucky for me, my best friend from eighth grade lives a half-hour away. She makes me laugh…all…the…time. I’m smiling just thinking about her right now.

    Can you tell us something that even your most loyal fans may not know about you?

    I love line dancing. I’ve been watching YouTube to learn new dances over the past year, but I look forward to classes resuming later in 2021.

    Is there anything else you would like to share with our readers?

    I’d love to receive pics of kids, parents, or pets enjoying I Am the Shark, or images of shark crafts our book inspired, to share on social media. Please send to joanholub at aol.com.

    For more information, visit joanholub.com.

    —

    I AM the Shark by Joan Holub

    I Am the Shark

    Written by Joan Holub

    Illustrated by Laurie Keller

    Ages 4-8 | 48 Pages

    Publisher: Crown Books for Young Readers | ISBN-13: 978-0525645283

    Publisher’s Synopsis: Hi! I am Great White Shark, and if you get this book, you’ll read all about ME–the greatest shark in the sea!

    Not so fast! Greenland Shark here, and as the oldest shark in this book, that makes me the greatest.

    Did someone say fast? I’m Mako Shark, and I’m the fastest shark in this book! Eat my bubbles!

    Wow, I’m Hammerhead Shark. You don’t need my special eyes to see that there are lots of great sharks in this book. Sink your teeth into it now!

    New York Times bestselling author Joan Holub makes a splash with bestselling illustrator Laurie Keller to deliver an entertaining undersea story that encourages self-acceptance and self-esteem, and is filled with humor and the greatest shark facts in the ocean!

    “I Am the Shark is a fun and fascinating picture book that would be fantastic both within and beyond the classroom!” — The Children’s Book Review

    “This title will be swimming off the shelves.” —Kirkus Reviews

    Buy the Book

    Buy on AmazonBuy on Bookshop

    This speed interview with Joan Holub was conducted by Bianca Schulze. For similar books and articles, follow along with our content tagged with Creative Non-Fiction, Fact Books, Ocean Animals, and Sharks. Be sure to follow along with our Speed Interview series, too.

    What to Read Next:

    1. I Am the Shark, by Joan Holub | Book Spotlight
    2. I Am the Shark, by Joan Holub | Dedicated Review
    3. Giraffe Problems, by Jory John | Speed Interview
    4. No Boring Stories, by Julie Falatko | Speed Interview

    *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.

    Creative Non-Fiction Crown Books for Young Readers Fact Books Joan Holub Laurie Keller Ocean Animals Picture Book Shark Week Sharks Speed Interview
    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    Previous ArticleMesopo, by Eva Dietrich | Dedicated Review
    Next Article Frankenbots: Sunken City of Scraps | Dedicated Review
    Bianca Schulze
    • Website
    • Facebook
    • X (Twitter)
    • LinkedIn

    Bianca Schulze is the founder of The Children’s Book Review. She is a reader, reviewer, mother and children’s book lover. She also has a decade’s worth of experience working with children in the great outdoors. Combined with her love of books and experience as a children’s specialist bookseller, the goal is to share her passion for children’s literature to grow readers. Born and raised in Sydney, Australia, she now lives with her husband and three children near Boulder, Colorado.

    Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

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

    TCBR Supporter
    Recent Articles
    • Charli’s Turtle Triumph: A Marine Biology Adventure | Dedicated Review
    • An Interview with Jill Rosen and Stephanie Rohr, Creators of the ‘Ode to a Pug’ Series
    • 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
    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.