The Truth About Great White Sharks

Starred review from July 1, 2000
Gr 3-6-This volume focuses on the work of marine biologists and their attempts to learn more about these creatures. Children will learn about shark anatomy, senses, eating habits, and their relationships with humans. Chapter headings follow the format indicated by the title: "The Truth Is-Great Whites Are Not Cold-Blooded Killers" or "-Great Whites Are Good Mothers." The book also contains unusual information such as how these fish are measured and photographed and why they are not able to survive in an aquarium. The attractive layout blends line drawings, full-color photographs, varied typefaces, and eye-catching graphics. Rotman's pictures are clear and informative. Both the bibliography and list of further reading are short but current, and lists of shark-friendly organizations and activities are also included. This title will be accessible to reluctant readers and is a must for most collections.-Nora Jane Natke, Hooked on Books, Hollywood, FL

Copyright 2000 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

April 1, 2000
Gr. 4^-7. Noting that "no other animal has had so much written about it based on so few facts," Cerullo examines what is known about sharks, using many photos and trendy graphics. Topics covered include physical characteristics, behaviors, feeding habits, the difficulties of studying sharks, and the potential to provide medical benefits for humans. The underwater photos, by Jeffrey L. Rotman, are fascinating, especially the three-page foldout. Cerullo consistently downplays shark attacks (a sidebar suggests "man-biters" as a more apt description than "man-eaters"), though she admits that victims often bleed to death, and there are some gruesome photos of attack survivors. Despite the picture-book format, bright colors, and Michael Wertz' fluorescent, childlike line drawings of smiling kids and cute sharks dotting photos and pages, the complex sentences are more appropriate for older readers. A list of conservation groups, a glossary, and a bibliography with three titles for young readers and four for adults are appended. ((Reviewed April 1, 2000))(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2000, American Library Association.)