PICTURE BOOKS
Holub, Joan

I Am the Shark

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Laurie Keller. In this colorful undersea tale, Keller's digitally rendered collages introduce a comical protagonist playing against type: a cheerful, smiling Great White Shark. Not satisfied with just being Great, our hero aims for bragging rights as the greatest shark in the book. But each time it tries to claim superiority, another shark steals its glory and contradicts these assumptions. For example, the Whale Shark announces it is the greatest because it is the biggest. So our Great White thinks perhaps it is the smallest, but, alas, that title goes to the Dwarf Lantern Shark. Maybe the smartest? Oops, that's the Hammerhead Shark. The fastest? Nope, the Mako wins by a nose in an amusing race. As the roll call continues, each new superlative shark reveals relevant facts about itself, such as the Whale Shark's declaration that it is the size of a school bus. Still seeking fame, the Great White studies an informative diagram of its anatomy to discover its greatest asset: those pearly whites, giving it the greatest smile. Young shark enthusiasts diving into Holub's fact-filled and humorous book can expand their knowledge with the suggested readings and websites appended; the book also includes a double-page compilation of "fintastic" shark facts.

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