Sharkabet: A Sea of Sharks from A to Z [Hardcover]

Ray M Troll (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 2002 | Age Level: 4 and up

"Sharkabet: A Sea of Sharks from A to Z" is a thrilling, chilling book for children of all ages. Featuring Ray Troll's spectacular fishy art, this book portrays sharks both living and extinct.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 4-An extraordinary alphabet of chondrichthyans from angel sharks to zebra sharks with a nifty intermingling of current and extinct species. In an introductory segment, Troll states that to make things "simpler" he is calling "all of the chondrichthyans sharks." This arbitrary personal classification allows him to include such non-sharks as rays, guitarfish and chimaeras in his alphabet soup, sadly to the detriment of scientific purity. Two pages of "Amazing Shark Facts" precede his "Shark Field Guide," which carefully points out the non-sharks in his lineup, presenting data on size, color, range, status, and fascinating "general remarks," all of which provide enough information for the merely curious and a sturdy launching platform for further investigations. However, the book's greatest asset is the brilliant art bursting from the pages like jewels. Often whimsical (nurse sharks are shown gliding about a patient in a hospital bed) or very dramatic (an extinct megalodon attacking a pod of prehistoric cetaceans), the images glow on the pages like mixed-media gems.
Patricia Manning, formerly at Eastchester Public Library, NY
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Gr. 2-4, younger for reading aloud. "Did you know there are more than 400 different kinds of sharks?" In this distinctive and beautifully illustrated shark alphabet book, published in association with the American Museum of Natural History, Troll celebrates the shark's diverse family tree. With concise text and exceptionally detailed pastel-like illustrations, he matches a species to each letter. For readers who see sharks as dangerous and repellent, Troll offers a new and more accurate perspective. For those who already know and respect the wonder of these creatures' existence after over 400 million years, Troll offers visuals and facts to reinforce their respect and awe. Attractive and packed with information, Sharkabet will not dissappoint. Kelly Halls
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: Westwiinds Press (March 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1558685189
• ISBN-13: 978-1558685185
• Product Dimensions: 10.3 x 8.7 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.5 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,045,715 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Sharkfeed of Fun!, March 15, 2002

By 

H.Pye "humblepie" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sharkabet: A Sea of Sharks from A to Z (Hardcover)

I find myself coming back to this book again and again to study the brightly-colored illustrations and tasty chunks of spellbinding sharklore. As a teacher of native English in Japan, I can testify to SHARKABET's popularity with children and adults alike; it even cuts across the language barrier with its visual wonders. In addition to pictures of unusual sharks in their native habitats, there are also fanciful but realistic scenes that leave my students gaping, such as sharks swimming in the air (for comparison with we earthbound types). Although I find the extinct prehistoric sharks to be the most fascinating -- some with mouths that look like power tools -- the little-known living sharks give their predecessors a run for their money (look for the Cookie Cutter Shark). The colors are vivid and lifelike, the facts seem like something out of God's own Sci-Fi Playroom, and even the experts find new treats to chew on in this excellent, amazing wonder.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The ABC's of Shark Evolution and Diversity, March 19, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Sharkabet: A Sea of Sharks from A to Z (Hardcover)

The time has come for a terrific book like this. Sharks are the subject of widespread and abiding public interest, an interest spurred on by (often sensationalist) media portrayals. As author Peter Benchley writes, "(The) long term reaction to Jaws has been not hatred but facination," while Time magazine in response to an apparent spate of shark attacks last year, pronounced summer 2001 "The Summer of the Shark". Despite the prevailing fascination with sharks, the animal -- like science as a whole -- continues to be shrouded in misconceptions, and these misconceptions, in turn, have placed sharks in great peril. Ray Troll's engaging art and essential text present the little known depths of shark diversity with a hip whimsical flair. Beautifully designed, this very high quality printing from WestWinds Press does justice to Troll's delightful, yet scientifically accurate, rendering. A quick shout-out to the scientists whose research Ray has brought to life, especially the paleontologists. Ray has given flesh to the bones of their long gone critters. Hopefully, this "back to basics" book will offer a more balanced view of those endangered predators still with us in Earth's oceans today.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 26 spectacular sharks, one amazing book, March 13, 2002

By 

Matt Celeskey (NM USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sharkabet (Paperback)

Sharkabet takes the reader on a delightful dive past 26 of the coolest sharks and rays ever assembled. Each colorful page bristles with "Ratfish" Ray Troll's trademark mix of eye-popping art, sly humor, and scientific accuracy - resulting in an alphabet book that is a joy for children and adults alike. In addition to sampling the 1000+ species of sharks and rays alive today, Sharkabet contains highlights from over 400 million years of shark prehistory - bringing to life sharks that have never before been illustrated! Highly recommended for all ages.