Thursday, April 12, 2018

If Sharks Disappeared


Today I am reviewing a children's picture book by Lily Williams entitled If Sharks Disappeared, written for children ages 4-8.


If Sharks Disappeared begins with a tranquil scene: a family—mom, dad, daughter, and dog—in a boat floating above a healthy ocean habitat.  But...the tone of the book changes quickly when…a shark arrives.  

No worries!  The shark has nothing to do with the family.  Although the shark is scary to look at, readers soon realize he has more to fear from humans than we do from him.

With the daughter as our teacher, we discover how unbalanced life on earth would be without sharks.  It becomes very obvious that each animal plays an important role in maintaining the environment we know today.

Shark extinction is a complex subject, but the author handles it in a clear, concise manner.   Colorful illustrations convey a hypothetical step by step conclusion to a world without sharks, and it isn't pretty!  Bottom line: we need sharks.      

This is an excellent book for the young reader who wonders 'how things work' or 'what happens if'.  The illustrations are large and colorful, making If Sharks Disappeared a good classroom choice.  Back matter contains a glossary, shark conservation facts, and a bibliography for the child and/or adult seeking further information.

Image Credits:

1.  Book Cover: [via Amazon.com].


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