Sharks: The Super Fish

Grade 4 Up In a readable, accurate text, Sattler supplies straightforward information on shark physiology and behavior. Strangely, her chapter on shark attacks neglects the hammerhead and the Australian nurse shark, authenticated as "man-eaters," but she does comment on the dangerous propensities of the lemon shark and the oceanic whitetip in the "Glossary of Sharks." This glossary will probably be the main focus of reader attention. Arranged alphabetically, it gives information on 20 families of sharks and over 100 varieties. Unfortunately, this format leads to many "See" and "See Also" references which can be annoying and is not as clear as a grouping by family. There is an excellent list of further readingsincluding a number of juvenile titles. All this is superbly accompanied by Zallinger's glorious illustrations in soft grays, accurate and non-sensational. While McGowen's Album of Sharks (Rand McNally, 1977) has color illustrations, it does not have as much information as Sattler's book. Freedman's Sharks (Holiday, 1985) has less to offer, too, but it still presents its information in a most gripping way, while Dingerkus' Shark Watcher's Guide (Messner, 1985) is less well organized, although more compact in size. A most welcome addition. Patricia Manning, Eastchester Public Library, N.Y.
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Sattler and Zallinger, who collaborated on Baby Dinosaurs, have created the ultimate source book for young readers in search of facts about sharks. With chapters like "Smart Fish" and "Never Make a Mako Mad!," this work covers more than 100 kinds of sharks, from teeth to tail. Precise pencil drawings highlight special features: head shapes, vision, how sharks breathe. This is a smooth-reading reference book; readers looking for something beyond an encyclopedia's paragraph on sharks will find this rewarding.
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc.