Customer Reviews

Shark in the Park

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

The little boy in this book is looking through his telescope in the park and is sure he keeps seeing a shark. The lense is an actual hole in the pages of the book, and as each page is turned the fin of the shark turns out to be something quite ordinary (ie. a cat, a crow, even the dad's Elvis-style haircut). This brightly illustrated book contains clever rhymes and pleasent repetition so kids can begin to chant along with the reader, and a surprise at the end leaves them giggling every time.

This book is full of repetition and rhyming fun. Timothy is at the park testing out his new telescope and thinks he keeps seeing a shark. Three of the pages have holes through them so that one might guess what he is seeing before the next page is turned. It never truly is a shark that he sees in the park but this is a fun book to read with a child ages 2-6 to see their expressions, guesses to the telescope hole page and reaction to what it really is that Timothy is seeing. This story would be fun to use in a kindergarten class when shapes are being taught.

I bought this book on a whim and it was the best purchase ever. I am a preschool teacher and this book became the class favorite as soon as I brought it to school. We read it many times a day, and the children can read the book themselves they know it so well. The illustrations are wonderful and the children learn directions such as up, down, left and right and really enjoy yelling, "Shark in the Park!!" at the top of their lungs. At our school your class is named after a animal, due to this book we are now...the Shark group. Please buy this book you will not be dissapointed!

My 2 1/2 year old daughter first checked this book out at the library. We have since purchased it because she cried every time we had to return it. The illustrations are awesome & she can practically repeat the book word for word at this point. "We" read it several times a day. A cute & funny book.

If you haven't discovered this book yet for your preschool story time programs, you are in for a treat. It offers lots of opportunity for audience participation, as kids can form their own "telescope" with their hands and look around the park right along with Timothy Pope. Timothy's discoveries of what he thinks are sharks are sure to elicit laughs and the great image on the last page just brings it home perfectly. Kids will catch on to the repeating refrain very quickly, and will ask this one to be read over and over again. Perfect story time selection, especially for ages 3 to 5. Recommended.

My wife teaches the 3 to 5 year old children at a Montessori school. They love the book. We purchased it for our 4 year old grandchild who likes to read it or have it read to her over and over again. She uses a used paper towel roll as her telescope and looks to the left, etc. just like the boy in the book. The book was sent quickly and arrived in perfect condition. Highly recommended.

We stumbled across Shark in the Park at the library and had to buy it because my kids love it so much they would look for it at the library and get upset that it was always checked out. They are 4 & 5 years old and think it is just hilarious that the pictures looks like a shark is coming up in the next page, only to find out when you turn the page that the "shark fin" is really part of another picture that has nothing to do with a shark. Like the other reviewer, they love shouting out various parts to the story and even though they can't read yet, know the idea so well that they kind of paraphrase "read" it out loud to each other.

My daughter (2 1/2yrs) loves this book. We read it over and over. I wish there was a board book version because my daughter likes to turn the page by using the peep holes in the pages and they get ripped. It is a good book to interact with your child, we have created games (tickle shark) and she likes to yell "THERES A SHARK IN THE PARK". As another reviewer, we also found this book at the Library - but my daughter didn't want to return it so we bought one.

From the colorful front cover to the delightful ending, this is a wonderfully repetitive book that finishes with a delicious surprise. I've read this book innumerable times to patrons and guests of the Children's Museum of Denver and to Head Start classes throughout the Mile High City and it has never failed to charm my audiences. The book is artfully designed with full-color illustrations throughout and ingenious cut-out overlays that enhance the story. I enjoy any book that can be acted as much as read, and this book lends itself to over-the-top gestures. The clever refrain also encourages listeners to join in the narration and will leave them smiling at the end.

AN OK BOOK. NOT ANYTHING I'D WANT TO HAVE TO READ OVER AND OVER.