The Best Book of Sharks
Grade 3-5-A slender, highly visual title. Two-page chapters are usually graced with a large dramatic full-color illustration or two (several of which lose considerable amount in the gutter) and one-to-a-dozen smaller illustrations and/or diagrams. An introductory paragraph is bolstered by the informative captions accompanying the smaller images. Topics include basic shark physiology, various species, gestation, dentition, and (of course) shark attacks on humans. While the book is visually inviting (and the open-jawed great white shark on the cover is riveting), it is not as informative as Helen Sattler's extremely handsome Sharks (Lothrop, 1986; o.p.) or Mary Cerullo's readable Sharks (Cobblehill, 1993). Sharks, however, are popular subjects for general reading, and this book may do the trick for browsers looking for a new title.Patricia Manning, formerly at Eastchester Public Library, NYCopyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.--This text refers to theHardcoveredition.