Misunderstood Shark

Reviewed by: Jill O'Connor - Merrill Memorial Library, Yarmouth, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: September 20, 2018

Review

A film crew of underwater creatures is getting ready to go live with a program when Shark appears and the show becomes a matter of survival as Shark does what he does best...give a tour of his mouth to a fish...snuggle with a seal...and provide Band-Aids to bleeding humans?! In an effort to improve PR for misunderstood sharks everywhere, and realizing that the show is rolling live and that people are watching, Shark goes against type to show that he is not the vicious, blood-thirsty creature everyone thinks he is; he is just misunderstood! If you're looking for a deep message in this book, you could delve into the fact that shark only does nice things when people are looking, or that the book shows Shark NOT doing most of the things that he actually does (eat fish and seals and respond to the smell of blood in the water), and you might be a little perplexed because what is Dyckman trying to say about behavior or the true nature of sharks? But if you put this in the hands of a child and sit back, you will see that it's funny to surprise your audience with unexpected actions and it's delightful to use bright, sharp illustrations to tell a silly story that keeps you on the edge of your seat wondering whether or when Shark will return to his true nature. And in a hilarious ending, Shark does do what he does best and the reader is left giggling and thinking maybe sharks aren't so misunderstood after all but people do need to lighten up. This one will circulate often.

Overall Book Score: very good