Shark Lady: The True Story of How Eugenie Clark Became the Ocean's Most Fearless Scientist

by Jess Keating (Author) Marta Alvarez Miguens (Illustrator)

Shark Lady: The True Story of How Eugenie Clark Became the Ocean's Most Fearless Scientist
Reading Level: 2nd − 3rd Grade

At nine years old, Eugenie Clark developed an unexpected passion for sharks after a visit to the Battery Park Aquarium in New York City. At the time, sharks were seen as mindless killing machines, but Eugenie set out to prove otherwise. From her many discoveries to the shark-related myths she dispelled, Eugenie earned the nickname "Shark Lady." Full color.

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$18.99

School Library Journal

Gr 1-4--Eugenie Clark (1922-2015) dedicated her life to studying zoology. A professor and a writer who was fascinated with sharks, she emphasized that these animals were not mindless killers. As a result of her tireless work, much of the world realized that sharks needed to be better appreciated and protected. The book is filled with bright blues and greens. The illustrations, done in Adobe Photoshop, portray Clark first as an inquisitive child and later as a tenacious scientist and a deep-sea diver. The aquatic creatures, drawn with big doe eyes, are depicted as friendly, happy creatures. Back matter includes additional information in a section titled "Shark Bites." VERDICT A fine way to introduce young children to science.--Patricia Ann Owens, formerly at Illinois Eastern Community College, Mount Carmel

Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Publishers Weekly

Keating (Pink Is for Blobfish) offers a lively portrait of scientist Eugenie Clark, who pursued a passion for sharks. Playfully mixing the aquatic and terrestrial, Miguens (One Small Donkey) shows sharks circling the stacks of the library where a young Clark reads: "Whale sharks. Nurse sharks. Tiger sharks. Lemon sharks. Eugenie wanted to know about them all." Despite facing discrimination as a woman, Clark earned a zoology degree then literally dove into field research, changing the way sharks were perceived. Through Clark's story, Keating suggests that, with perseverance, a childhood fascination can evolve into a life's work. Ages 4-8. Author's agent: Kathleen Rushall, Andrea Brown Literary. Illustrator's agency: Astound. (June)

Copyright 2017 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

Review quotes

"This is an inspirational story of a woman who challenged perceptions at a time when few women were encouraged to enter the profession... a great selection for women's history month or for units on ocean life." - School Library Connection

Jess Keating
Jess Keating is a zoologist-turned-author who writes with the sort of wisdom you can only get from multiple crocodile bites and skunk sprays. She's received oodles of state awards and starred reviews for her books, which include the World of Weird Animals nonfiction series and the biographies Shark Lady and Ocean Speaks. She also dabbles in illustration, has her own Youtube Channel, and runs a blog that's popular with teachers and librarians for its exploration of STEM subjects and the writing process. Jess lives with her husband in Ontario, Canada.

Michelle Mee Nutter graduated with a BFA in Illustration from the Massachusetts College of Art and Design. Her work has been recognized by the Society of Illustrators, 3x3 Illustration, Creative Quarterly and she is the illustrator of the graphic novel Allergic. Nutter lives in Boston, Mass.
Classification
Non-fiction
ISBN-13
9781492642046
Lexile Measure
730
Guided Reading Level
N
Publisher
Sourcebooks Explore
Publication date
June 06, 2017
Series
-
BISAC categories
JNF007090 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Biography & Autobiography | Science & Technology
JNF003150 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Animals | Marine Life
JNF023000 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Girls & Women
Library of Congress categories
United States
Sharks
Clark, Eugenie
Ichthyologists
Research
Best Children's Book of 2017
Parents Magazine 2017

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