Smart About Sharks

smart-about-sharks

 Owen Davey,  Smart About Sharks, Flying Eye Books/Walker Books Australia,  1 Sept 2016,  48pp., $27.99 (hbk),  ISBN 9781909263574

Smart About Sharks is the next title in Owen Davey’s series about animals, after Mad About Monkeys. It gives an excellent introduction to these fascinating creatures which can strike so much fear into human hearts. The logical arrangement of topics begins with “What are sharks?”. The text explains how they are classified, their anatomy, their hunting techniques and types of prey and some of the weird and wonderful varieties, such as the hammerhead. One interesting double-page spread gives examples of sharks in mythology and folklore while the concluding pages describes how some of the populations are at risk and what readers can do to help.

There is an index of sharks by their scientific names, which is not as useful as their common names as you have to read through the different orders to find the shark you are looking for. A glossary would also have helped as some technical terms are used which are not in common usage. For example, on the classification page, two types of shark are differentiated by their ‘nictitating eyelids’ with no explanation of what that means.  (For those who don’t know: A nictitating eyelid is a third eyelid that is translucent or clear. It is used as an extra level of safety for the eye and allows the shark to still see while affording its eyes an additional amount of protection.)

The illustrations and design of the book have a retro feel, with colours and style not usual in books about sharks. The covers have a pink background and the pages of FSC certified paper have a natural off-white to cream background. The other colours used are muted in tone. There are no photographs but the stylised illustrations are accurate in their portrayal of the different species. The silhouette of a surfer on a board from underneath compared to a seal and a turtle is a bit scary.

With the recent spate of attacks and close encounters with great white sharks along the Australia eastern seaboard this year heightening interest in the subject, this book will serve as a good introduction to young readers wanting to know the facts about these apex predators.

Reviewed by Lynne Babbage

 

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