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Be afraid of bees!

Customer Rating:
I actually purchased this book for my husband as an inside joke. We had seen it in an eclectic children's store in Santa Barbara and found one particular part very funny: it tells readers that though sharks are dangerous, not to worry because you're more likely to be killed by a bee sting. We thought that was brilliant for a children's early reader. Who are the people publishing these things? I had to give it a 3 because of what other people say about the information being factual and all that. But seriously?

I ENJOY THIS ONE BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY THE KIDS DO TOO

Customer Rating:
This is not a bad beginning reader and it is full of very fascintating information about sharks and shark life. The illustrations are quite good and of course hold the children's interest from cover to cover. The text is simple and quite easy to follow and understand. I can see why there might be some concerns over portions of the book. Yes, the book dose address the fact that sharks, for the most part, are preditors and I can see why the illustrations might upset some (although I feel it will probably the adults rather than the children who will be upset. Kids are so pragmatic these days about such things). I also have to agree to parts of the one negative review this book received in that I too felt the author was being a bit cavalier as to the probability of the survival of sharks all over the world. As the reviewer pointed out, this is one animal that is quickly getting into trouble in a big way. Perhaps I would have liked to have seen a bit more on the necessity of keeping these wonderful creatures with us. Overall though, I find the book to be quite useful and as I pointed out, the kids all love it.

shark fan cannot recommend this book

Customer Rating:
Hungry, Hungry Sharks has too much sketchy information in it for me to be comfortable reading it to my children. Sure, lots of the facts are spot on. But too many of them are based on conjecture. For example, "even a swordfish almost always loses a fight with a great white shark." I have never heard of a white shark being observed consuming a swordfish. That is not to say that it doesn't happen, but I don't think there is enough evidence for the author to make such a statement. If you find this a bit nitpicky, fine, I am a nitpicker. But consider the final sentence of this book: "As long as there are oceans, there will be sharks." This God-like prediction is irresponsible (even for a book written in 1986) given that many shark species may be moving toward extinction. The best lesson your kids can get from this book is that you can't believe everything you read. I am not even going to take this book to the thrift store...I am throwing it away...

Hungry, Hungry Minds

Customer Rating:
My son, a college sophomore these days, made me read this book to him so many times when he was little that I can still recite some of it by heart. Beyond the wonderful illustrations and fascinating facts about sharks, this book has a very playful way with language that immediately captures a young reader�s attention. If you have any little oceanographers at home, or even if you are simply trying to get some wiggling, non-scientific, prodigies to calm down and get ready for bed, by all means, pick this one up. Your kids will love you for it.

I didn't know so much about sharks until I read this book

Customer Rating:
I like't the book. I did't know that more people die from bee
sting's than from shark bites!