If Sharks Disappeared

April 24, 2017
Williams defends sharks as not scary but essential in her children’s book debut, as a family’s boat outing frames a narrative that examines the role that these ancient, oft-misunderstood predators play in ocean ecosystems. The family’s daughter serves as a silent host as Williams’s spreads posit the dire consequences that could result if sharks disappear, such as the disappearance of fish and a subsequent surge of plankton growth that “could make the ocean a thick sludge.” While the scenario is alarming, Williams’s cartoons maintain a lighter note, featuring undersea creatures that often sport very human expressions. After taking readers to the hypothetical brink of disaster, Williams circles back and reassures with the message that sharks are still around and that “all species depend on one another to survive.” In the endnotes, readers learn about the biggest threats to sharks: appetites for shark fin soup, overfishing, and other harmful practices. A bibliography and a list of dos and don’ts wrap up a well-executed environmental primer that will leave readers considering the interconnectivity of the planet and its inhabitants. Ages 4–8. Agent: Minju Chang, Bookstop Literary.

Starred review from April 15, 2017
Williams guides readers through the multifarious world of sharks and offers a disconcerting glimpse into our world without them.For approximately 450 million years, sharks have played a role in balancing our oceans' ecosystems. Following a young ocean enthusiast of color, the text explains that, as predators at the top of their food chain, sharks help maintain the species below them, as they "typically eat sick, slow, or weak prey," keeping populations healthy and numbers in check. But due to overfishing and other harmful human impacts, more than one-quarter of shark species are approaching extinction--a threat that not only endangers the aquatic ecosystems of which sharks are a part, but could also "spread like a wave...until animals around the globe are affected." From the beauty of the great white shark to the easy-to-overlook plankton, the cheery illustrations paired with a gently insistent call to action are all the more haunting when they show the bleak future without sharks. The apocalyptic nature of this very real possibility is offset by Williams' reminder that, for now, sharks are still here--underscored in a gorgeous vertical gatefold depicting a healthy marine ecosystem--and that by remembering the importance of our planet's trophic reciprocity, readers can keep it that way. Often directly addressing readers in the text, Williams provides an action checklist and bibliography to get them started. A successful balancing act between heralding disaster and promoting change--an informative debut. (glossary, notes) (Informational picture book. 5-10)

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Starred review from May 1, 2017

K-Gr 2-Young audiences learn conservation vocabulary and concepts through an illustrated examination of what might happen if sharks were to become extinct. A brown-skinned girl in a boat acts as a guide for this predictive exercise. She first introduces sharks as part of a healthy ocean, then describes the ways in which sharks influence our ecosystem. In accessible language that doesn't shy away from scientific terminology, the book lays out the path of the trophic cascade that might result from a complete shark extinction. Vibrant seascapes full of movement and a diverse array of underwater flora and fauna contrast sharply with spreads of an ocean choked with algae and devoid of wildlife and plants. Ending on a hopeful note that reaffirms the importance of sharks and downplays their scary reputation, Williams appends additional information on threats to sharks, suggestions for child-appropriate actions to take, and an author's note. A former animator, Williams offers illustrations that balance scientific accuracy with a familiar and appealing cartoon quality. Text color and placement and variations in page layout provide plenty of variety and visual interest but may slow down read-alouds. VERDICT While the future is impossible to predict, Williams presents a scientifically grounded view of a world without sharks that should spark discussion and inspire action in budding ecologists. A terrific addition to any school or public library.-Chelsea Couillard-Smith, Hennepin County Library, MN

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