If Sharks Disappeared (If Animals Disappeared)

by Lily Williams (Author) Lily Williams (Illustrator)

Reading Level: 2nd − 3rd Grade
"A nonfiction picture book tracing the repercussions of what would happen if sharks disappeared from our planet"--
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Kirkus

Starred Review
A successful balancing act between heralding disaster and promoting change--an informative debut.

Publishers Weekly

Williams defends sharks as not scary but essential in her children's book debut, as a family's boat outing frames a narrative that examines the role that these ancient, oft-misunderstood predators play in ocean ecosystems. The family's daughter serves as a silent host as Williams's spreads posit the dire consequences that could result if sharks disappear, such as the disappearance of fish and a subsequent surge of plankton growth that "could make the ocean a thick sludge." While the scenario is alarming, Williams's cartoons maintain a lighter note, featuring undersea creatures that often sport very human expressions. After taking readers to the hypothetical brink of disaster, Williams circles back and reassures with the message that sharks are still around and that "all species depend on one another to survive." In the endnotes, readers learn about the biggest threats to sharks: appetites for shark fin soup, overfishing, and other harmful practices. A bibliography and a list of dos and don'ts wrap up a well-executed environmental primer that will leave readers considering the interconnectivity of the planet and its inhabitants. Ages 4-8. Agent: Minju Chang, Bookstop Literary. (June)

Copyright 2017 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

School Library Journal

Starred Review

K-Gr 2--Young audiences learn conservation vocabulary and concepts through an illustrated examination of what might happen if sharks were to become extinct. A brown-skinned girl in a boat acts as a guide for this predictive exercise. She first introduces sharks as part of a healthy ocean, then describes the ways in which sharks influence our ecosystem. In accessible language that doesn't shy away from scientific terminology, the book lays out the path of the trophic cascade that might result from a complete shark extinction. Vibrant seascapes full of movement and a diverse array of underwater flora and fauna contrast sharply with spreads of an ocean choked with algae and devoid of wildlife and plants. Ending on a hopeful note that reaffirms the importance of sharks and downplays their scary reputation, Williams appends additional information on threats to sharks, suggestions for child-appropriate actions to take, and an author's note. A former animator, Williams offers illustrations that balance scientific accuracy with a familiar and appealing cartoon quality. Text color and placement and variations in page layout provide plenty of variety and visual interest but may slow down read-alouds. VERDICT While the future is impossible to predict, Williams presents a scientifically grounded view of a world without sharks that should spark discussion and inspire action in budding ecologists. A terrific addition to any school or public library.--Chelsea Couillard-Smith, Hennepin County Library, MN

Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Review quotes




Lily Williams
Lily Williams is the author and illustrator of If Sharks Disappeared, If Polar Bears Disappeared, If Elephants Disappeared, and If Bees Disappeared. She grew up in Northern California where she received her BFA from California College of the Arts before moving to Denver, Colorado. Lily seeks to inspire change, engage audiences, and educate people of all ages with her artwork
Classification
Non-fiction
ISBN-13
9781626724136
Lexile Measure
830
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Roaring Brook Press
Publication date
May 23, 2017
Series
If Animals Disappeared
BISAC categories
JNF051080 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Science & Nature | Earth Sciences - General
JNF003150 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Animals | Marine Life
JNF003270 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Animals | Endangered
Library of Congress categories
Endangered species
Sharks
Marine animals
JUVENILE NONFICTION / Animals / Marine Life
JUVENILE NONFICTION / Animals / Endangered
JUVENILE NONFICTION / Science & Nature / Eart

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