Sharks [Paperback]

Seymour Simon (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 5 and up | Grade Level: K and up

Exceptional nonfiction for children from two of the most trusted names in science education: Seymour Simon and the Smithsonian Institution.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 3-5?Parker presents information from the point of view of what if rather than why. Double-page spreads present various aspects of undersea life, including environmental issues, often using a question-and-answer format. The author does not necessarily specify where the animals or plants are found, e.g., "Common eels are actually born in the middle of the ocean" (no mention is made of the Sargasso Sea). The question "What if sharks didn't have teeth?" is illustrated with a drawing of a toothless shark, wrinkled mouth wrapped around a diver's leg. Many of the paragraphs contain substantive facts presented in entertaining, readable, informal language. However, no pronunciation guide is given for more difficult words such as cartilaginous or chondricthyes. Sometimes the facts are exaggerated and unsubstantiated, e.g., the gathering of the females' eggs into the brood pouches of sea horses and pipe fish is presented as male pregnancy. Also, not all sharks must continue swimming to stay afloat. The full-color illustrations are humorous rather than realistic. They often match and amplify the narrative, but occasionally go so far into humor as to be misleading, e.g., the sea horse is shown with a human baby riding its back. A one-page "fact file" contains shocking tidbits rather than a summary of facts, and the one-page index is not inclusive.?Frances E. Millhouser, Chantilly Regional Library, VA
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

From Booklist

Ages 7^-9. With a good balance of text and illustrations, Simon introduces the world of sharks. Always informative, he offers basic information about their variety, habits, physical characteristics, and life cycles. Although not captioned, the excellent full-color photographs relate so closely to the text on the opposite page that the pictures work in harmony with the words. An effective introduction to sharks. Carolyn Phelan --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Collins (May 23, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060877138
• ISBN-13: 978-0060877132
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 10 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #134,220 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #2 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Arts & Music > Photography
  • #7 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Animals > Fish > Nonfiction
  • #11 in Books > Children's Books > Arts, Crafts & Music > Photography

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Pretty informative, too much so in some places...., December 4, 2009

By 

c2 (Dublin, Ohio) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Sharks (Paperback)

This book does a good job in explaining shark life to children. It is interesting to learn that they also have teeth all over their bodies. Golly! Did you know that the great white has 50, 2.5" teeth in its mouth? They show them to you too in this book. I have to argue with the age on this book - it says 4-8. However, I don't recomend it to young children at all. It goes into great detail on the reproduction side of the shark, WAY too much so to be reading it to a four-year-old or even an 8-year-old. I didn't find it necessary at all to be included in this book for this age group. Maybe about 6th grade or so, but not at this age group. Why we have to trash the innocence of our children these days is beyond me. Plus, Simon uses some pretty large words that you have to stop and explain prior to going on in order to understand what is being said. It is intersting to read, but please keep in mind that there are about 3 pages you'll have to skip if you prefer not to teach young children about reproduction. Recommend with the above reservations.

4.0 out of 5 stars Sharks by Seymour Simon- 4 stars, July 6, 2009

By 

A. Schwerin (Michigan) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sharks (Hardcover)

The book 'Sharks' by Seymour Simon was an informative and entertaining read. Many shark books have a tendency to retell commonly known information. This book offered many tid bits of infomation that kept my interest such as the gestation of most shark eggs being six to fifteen months. One line in the back of the book was questionable. It says, "The jaws of a great white shark are filled with fifty two-and-one-half-inch pointed teeth- the largest teeth of any shark." I was confused about what it was referring... the amount of teeth or the size of the teeth. I have to believe that it was the amount of teeth, as a fifty two-and-one-half-inch tooth is one gigantic tooth! Overall~ good book.