The World According to Sharks
Did you know sharks never stop growing, they’re older than trees, and Greenland sharks can live to be 500 years old? Neither did I, and now I can’t un-know it! But this is more than a ‘Did you know?’ book. The author takes a much-feared animal and make it likeable, even accessible. The facts are plentiful: conveyed through child-friendly descriptions and quirky and relatable shark characters, including the Irish basking shark.
The book is divided into eight chapters answering questions most readers might have about the species: ‘where do sharks live?’ and ‘are sharks dangerous?’ Shark news, interviews (with eccentric sharks) and fact or fin-tasy sections are interspersed throughout, inviting interaction and memorable moments. The writing and artwork go together swimmingly. On every page dead-pan humour, puns, and fun illustrations bring the science and behaviours of the species to life. Hodge’s playful art guarantees that visual learners are not left behind in a book that also includes scientific terms.
At 144 pages, this book is meaty but portable: a perfect travel companion for a day at the beach or aquarium. With a glossary at the back, by the last chapter, young readers will have been charmed by a creature that most of us fear, and the chapter on threats to the species and what we can do to help is fully earned.
This is a book full of rewards and charm – it’s some-fin special!
