Nonfiction Picture Book Wednesday-Please Be Nice to Sharks by Matt Weiss

My Friend Alyson Beecher at Kid Lit Frenzy hosts a weekly link up to share Nonfiction Picture Books. Please visit her amazing website.

So I am slowly getting back into blogging after about 2 months away. I am looking forward to reconnecting with my friends and sharing books!

Please Be Nice to Sharks-Fascinating Facts About the Ocean's Most Misunderstood Creatures

by Matt Weiss

Photos by Matt Weiss and Daniel Botelho

Published June 7, 2016

Sterling Children's Books

Nonfiction Picture Book

Hardcover

32 Pages

Review copy provided by publisher. 

Although shark attacks on humans are rare, they never fail to make the news when they occur, sending people into a panic. These events and sensationalized shark movies have made sharks one of the most feared creatures in Earth. I was a child when the original JAWS movie came out and I was terrified to go in any body of water for quite some time. 

Please Be Nice to Sharks seeks to dispel scary rumors and misconceptions about these fascinating animals. 

The book opens by presenting information about the importance of sharks to our planet. Then 14 species of sharks are featured one at a time with simple text and colored photographs. The information is presented by the sharks in entertaining first person narration. Each shark tells what is unique about it and tries to convince the reader that people should be nice to it.  Some of the text is accompanied by a text box of further information about the shark such as length, weight, and adaptations. 

I enjoyed the format and the focus of this book. Unlike many books about sharks, it does not try to teach the reader everything about each animal. The text is simple, short and focused. I can see many students choosing to write persuasive nonfiction pieces about animals following this mentor example. 

I would recommend Please Be Nice to Sharks for grades 3-5. It would make a nice addition to a school or classroom library. I can't wait to share it with my 4th graders! 

See what others have to say about this book:

Publishers Weekly

Examiner.com