Sea Creatures from the Sky

PreS-Gr 2--Abducted from its life underwater, a shark goes on a strange journey from the sea into the sky. There, it is handled and prodded and then released by two strange creatures, who readers will recognize as marine biologists. Once the shark is released by the scientists, it goes back to the other sea critters to tell them of the unbelievable encounter. Cortés's story certainly presents a unique perspective, but its rhyming scheme may be off-putting; sentence length changes frequently, and the meter is often off by a beat ("One bite, that's all it took. For this little fish had a hook"), so reading aloud can prove to be challenging. The phenomenal artwork is what truly makes this book special. The landscapes of the sea, the sky, and outer space are breathtaking. Cortés's different blending and thinning of the colors create a world of beauty. VERDICT This fascinating tale of perspective and point of view makes a fine addition for most collections.--Peter Blenski, Greenfield Public Library, WI

"I loved everything about this story. The art is just beautiful...It's a look at preservation and oceanography from a different point of view, and makes a realistic-looking shark less threatening, even likable. Kids will appreciate the misunderstood predator; how many times have kids been called out for exaggerating a recollection that is absolutely true from their point of view?...This one is a must-add to storytimes and books where sharks and undersea life are popular."
—Mom Read It (blog)

"The story...challenges readers of all ages to honor the voices of others and their lived experiences...The cadence of its rhyming and its luminous illustrations of ocean depths, as well as an expansive sky-to-universe stretching palette, will render a child's wonderment for learning about a world that is brand-new."
—What's the 411

"This is a lovely, gently philosophical book that reads like an aquatic Twilight Zone episode...An engaging and beautifully illustrated tale."
—The Fan Brothers, authors/illustrators of The Night Gardener

"What must a shark makes of the scientists who study her? I won't be able to look at the animals I tag quite the same way ever again."
—Dr. Alistair Dove, marine biologist, Georgia Aquarium