Customer Reviews

Hungry, Hungry Sharks (Step-Into-Reading, Step 3)

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

From a second grader's point of view: I really liked this book. This book is a non-fiction book that teaches you about sharks. It tells you what they eat, their habits, and what kinds of sharks there are. It tells you specifically about sandsharks, great white sharks, basking sharks, and thresher sharks, among others.

This is not a bad beginning reader and it is full of very fascintating information about sharks and shark life. The illustrations are quite good and of course hold the children's interest from cover to cover. The text is simple and quite easy to follow and understand. I can see why there might be some concerns over portions of the book. Yes, the book dose address the fact that sharks, for the most part, are preditors and I can see why the illustrations might upset some (although I feel it will probably the adults rather than the children who will be upset. Kids are so pragmatic these days about such things). I also have to agree to parts of the one negative review this book received in that I too felt the author was being a bit cavalier as to the probability of the survival of sharks all over the world. As the reviewer pointed out, this is one animal that is quickly getting into trouble in a big way. Perhaps I would have liked to have seen a bit more on the necessity of keeping these wonderful creatures with us. Overall though, I find the book to be quite useful and as I pointed out, the kids all love it.

This is an excellent book for the budding oceanographer (or the beginning reader). It realistically shows the shark as predator (some of the pictures show sea animals being eaten by sharks, but the illustrations will probably not be upsetting for most), and as victim of the smarter, more teamwork-oriented dolphins. The book does a great job of reporting interesting shark facts; for example, there are more than 300 types of sharks, the dwarf shark is no bigger than a hand, a barrel of nails was once found in a shark's belly, etc. 47 pages long, the publisher recommends it for readers in grades 1-3. A good beginner book.

I like't the book. I did't know that more people die from bee
sting's than from shark bites!

The book Hungry Hungry Sharks by Joanna Cole is a good book if you like sharks and you want to find out what they eat or how they live. This would be the book that you would want to read to find those things plus you can find lots more about sharks than what I listed above.

"Hungry, Hungry Sharks" was one of the first shark books I bought as a child. Now, as a teacher, I still use this book to provide some factual information to my students. The words are simple enough for a primary student to read, and the illustrations justify the reading. The information in the story is factual, and children love hearing about the sharks. It's a good book.

My son, a college sophomore these days, made me read this book to him so many times when he was little that I can still recite some of it by heart. Beyond the wonderful illustrations and fascinating facts about sharks, this book has a very playful way with language that immediately captures a young readers attention. If you have any little oceanographers at home, or even if you are simply trying to get some wiggling, non-scientific, prodigies to calm down and get ready for bed, by all means, pick this one up. Your kids will love you for it.

My daughter (7) loved this but it is a bit more "sciency" than others she had read. It also has a few graphic nature facts that some parents might find a bit tough for a young reader. (Sharks can eat a seal in one bite).
In all though I have loved the whole "Step-Into-Reading" series as they grow with you. Buy this one but be cautious if your little one is squeamish.

See my review of Whales from the same series.

I planned to supplement marine coloring books with Sharks and Whales for my 6- and 8-year-old grandsons, assuming they could read the books themselves. As I said in Whales review, there's no way a 1st grader can read this book, not even with help from his brother. It would only serve to make him feel inadequate and dumb. I am returning both books.

I really enjoy using the Step-Into-Reading books with my remedial reading students. They really help ease reluctant readers into reading novels, and this book is no exception. This is an easy reader that is not a (in the words of one of my students) "sissy fairy tale book," which boys and girls both love. The anecdotes about shark encounters and illustrations are appealing to all, including this shark-loving teacher. This book is not graphic or gory, so comparison to scary sharks (such as Jaws) is not immediately made by kids.