"The great white shark swims on.
Her tail sways side to side;
her fins keep her balanced.
She travels the fast lane
where she can, cruising
invisible seaways."
Mention the word 'shark' and many think first of the great white. Claire Saxby, an accomplished nonfiction writer for kids, describes for her readers the ocean journey a pregnant shark takes in preparation for the birth of her pups ... seven in all. As the shark moves from cold to warmer waters, the author allows her readers a close look at its appearance, the way it adjusts its body temperature, its incredible speed and awesome power, its expertise at hunting, its non-existent parental concern for its pups once they are born, its appetite. and the fact that it has no particular interest in humans at all.
She is looking for food, using all of her navigational skills and power to find it. As she travels, she stops near an island that harbors young fur seal pups as they learn to swim. One gulp and a slow pup becomes welcome sustenance.
"Great white sharks' taste buds are thought
to identify only "food" or "not food." Sharks
have many rows of sharp, serrated teeth
but cannot chew."
Ms. Lane uses seawater, found natural pigments, watercolors, pencil, pastel, digital drawing and digital collage to create amazing double page spreads filled with action, the color and light that imparts both the darkness of the depths and the variations in the color of the water itself as the sun sparkles at its surface.
The refined readaloud story, accompanied by descriptive additional text written in a different font, and gorgeous watercolor artwork, are sure to make this new book about sharks a real hit. Once again, don't miss the endpapers!
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