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

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

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)