Sharks in Kansas: The Ancient Sea in the Middle of America by Melissa Stewart and Becca Stadtlander

 

Sharks in Kansas: The Ancient Sea in the Middle of America

By Melissa Stewart

Illustrated by Becca Stadtlander

Expected publication July 7, 2026

Random House Studio

Nonfiction

Hardcover

40 Pages

Review copy provided by publisher

Summary from the Publisher

Sharks in Kansas? Yes, it’s true! Take a fascinating journey back 85 million years to a time when Kansas was submerged under a vast ocean teeming with incredible prehistoric sharks.

Sharks in Kansas? Seems impossible, right? After all, Kansas is smack dab in the middle of the United States—more than 1,000 miles from the closest ocean. But the world hasn’t always looked the way it does today.

Once upon a time, 85 million years ago, the middle of America was submerged in water–and incredible creatures roamed the sea. On a typical afternoon, a small herd of Claosaurus munches on plants along the shoreline. Above them, a Pteranodon glides across the sky in search of fish… when, suddenly, a Squalicorax grabs a young dinosaur with its bone-crunching bite. Chomp!

From the flightless bird Hesperonis to the mighty Tylosaurus, here is a fascinating look at many kids’ favorite creatures and the mysteries of an ancient ocean.

My Thoughts

Melissa Stewart's books are always engaging, unique, and jam-packed with information. Sharks in Kansas is no different. This book offers a fascinating glimpse into what our world looked like 85 million years ago, and how scientists have come to understand the creatures that once inhabited many parts of what is now the US. 

Stewart tells the story of the prehistoric creatures and includes sidebars that contain specific facts about them. She incorporates descriptive and content-specific vocabulary that shows a respect for young readers. 

Becca Stadtlander's illustrations help readers see what the creatures looked like. While maps, diagrams, and cross-sections show changes in the Earth over time, and how it is possible to find evidence of prehistoric ocean creatures in the middle of the US. 

Kids love sharks and all things prehistory, and they will love this book. I can't wait to share it with my students. 

Shark Week starts July 6! 

See What Others Have to Say About This Book:

“A solid, well-illustrated introduction to prehistoric North America.” —Kirkus Reviews
“It’s a smartly structured deep dive that brings a long-gone water body vividly into the modern age.” —Publishers Weekly
“An inviting plunge into the deep past.” —Booklist

Info About The Creators:

Melissa Stewart is a leading voice in children's nonfiction, with more than 200 science books to her name. Her work has been translated into more than a dozen languages and garnered such awards as the Sibert Honor, two Green Earth Book Awards, and four ALA Notables. Her best-known titles include Whale Fall, illustrated by Rob Dunlavey, Tree Hole Homes, illustrated by Amy Hevron, and Feathers: Not Just for Flying, illustrated by Sarah S. Brannen. After earning a bachelor's degree in biology from Union College and a master's degree in science journalism from New York University, Melissa worked as a children's book editor for nine years before becoming a full-time writer. While gathering information for her books, she has explored tropical rain forests in Costa Rica, gone on safari in East Africa, and swum with sea lions in the Galapagos Islands. She lives in Massachusetts. For more information, including teacher resources, videos, and more, visit melissa-stewart.com.


Becca Stadtlander is an illustrator and fine artist. In 2019, she won the Golden Kite Award for Picture Book Illustration for Made by Hand: A Crafts Sampler. Picture books she has illustrated include Mr. McCloskey's Marvelous Mallards, Sleep Tight, Farm, and On Wings of Words, which received four starred reviews. Her work is also featured in adult books, editorial publications, stationery, home decor products, and book covers.

Our Prehistoric Planet by Sue Lowell Gallion and Lisk Feng

Our Prehistoric Planet 

by Sue Lowell Gallion 

Illustrated by Lisk Feng

Expected Publication March, 2026

Phaidon Press

Nonfiction

Review copy provided by publisher

Summary from Publisher

A rhyming, read-aloud introduction to dinosaurs and early life on our planet that, when opened up and folded back, creates a free-standing globe

This exciting addition to the bestselling Our World collection invites children to explore life on our prehistoric planet through rhyming verse and stunning illustrations.

Beginning with the origins of early life in the oceans billions of years ago, Our Prehistoric Planet travels chronologically through the development of giant crocodile-like lizards, the reign of the dinosaurs, mass extinction events, and the rise of early mammals. Along the way, readers will meet incredible creatures from across the globe, from familiar favorites like Stegosaurus to the bizarre Brontothere, an enormous, rhino-like mammal with giant horns over 3 feet long.

Additional text throughout offers more detailed information and friendly interactive questions, encouraging readers to learn about the amazing creatures that, millions of years ago, stomped or swam where we live today.

Inspiring, informative, and one-of-a-kind, this artful homage to our prehistoric world is both an invitation to travel back in time and an object to be treasured for years to come.

My Thoughts
Kids LOVE books about dinosaurs. This book teaches about different dinosaurs, but goes beyond to cover early prehistory and how the world changed and creatures developed as time passed.
The information is presented in both simple text on the right side of each spread and goes into further detail on the right side, making this book relevant for younger and older students.
Then there is the way it opens up into a globe that stands up independently.

Image from Amazon.com

I would definitely recommend adding this book to your collection. 

Dining With Dinosaurs: A Tasty Guide to Mesozoic Munching by Hannah Bonner

Dining With Dinosaurs: A Tasty Guide to Mesozoic Munching 
by Hannah Bonner
Published Sept. 2016
National Geographic Kids Books
Nonfiction
48 Pages
Review copy provided by publisher

Goodreads Summary
Sure you know that T-Rex was the meat-eating king and that brontosaurus muched on leaves, but what else was on the dino dining menu during the Mesozoic era? In this hilarious book, paleontologists reveal all! Meet the 'vores: carnivores, piscivores, herbivores, insectivores, "trashivores," "sunivores," and omnivores like us. Readers will be surprised and inspired to learn about all the crazy stuff dinos ate and they'll get insights into how scientists can tell which dinosaurs ate what just from looking at fossils! Journey through artist and author Hannah Bonner's whimsical world to learn how the dinosaurs and their contemporaries bit, chewed, and soaked up their food.

My Thoughts

Kids will love learning about dinosaurs in this engaging book! They will learn about the different kinds of "vores", what they ate and how they depended on one another in the circle of life. 

The facts are presented in an effective combination of brief text, illustrations, diagrams and captions. There are funny, yet informative cartoony creatures sprinkled throughout the book offering a bit of comedy to the factual information. 

Comic strip panels called. "Ask a Scientist" show scientists further discussing the topic presented on the page. 

At the end of the book, the author makes a connection to food chains today. There is also a great diagram of a food web and where the different "vores" fall within the web. 

Photo taken of page 7. 

There is so much to look at and learn in this book. I would highly recommend it for any dinosaur fanatic or classroom library for grades 3-5. 

See what others have to say about this book:

Kirkus-starred review

Visit Hannah Bonner's website.