Neighborhood Sharks: Hunting with the Great Whites of California’s Farallon Islands

The thought of a great white shark can bring a chill to the bone of any young reader, yet they are curious and want to know much more about these amazing and terrifying creatures. This book starts out looking like a picture book for very young readers, except for the subject matter, but after six spreads of little text and big illustrations (more than a quarter of the book), it becomes much more appropriate for the third- to fifth-grade set. The text is significant and well-written for that age group. While the information is highly scientific, it will not overwhelm youngsters. The accompanying illustrations support the science with explanatory graphics. Kids will be fascinated to find out how sharks can project their jaws, which are not fused to their skulls, to assist them in eating their large prey. Sharks highly sensitive eyes, very unlike other animals’ eyes, are critical to their hunting success. Scientists are able to learn a great deal about these captivating creatures as they spend a large part of the year only a few miles from San Francisco. This book does a good job of giving an introduction for youngsters to the great white shark.