 |
| Cover image of Swimming with Sharks by Heather Lang, illustrated by Jordi Solano |
By Heather Lang
Illustrated by Jordi Solano
Albert Whitman and Company
2016
Ages 4-8
Lexile 760
"Sharks are magnificent and misunderstood!"
From her first visits to the New York Aquarium as a child, Eugenie Clark was captivated by ocean life. She observed all different types of fish, but she was fascinated by sharks. In the narrative picture book biography Swimming
with Sharks, Lang relates the story of Clark's lifelong journey to understand and educate others about sharks.
Lang’s text and Solano’s rich illustrations work together to portray Genie’s sense of wonder and inquisitiveness. When Lang
writes about Genie’s mother buying her a fish tank, Solano shows a full-page
view of Genie’s face, eyes wide open, studying the fish.
 |
| Eugenie looking at fish tank in Swimming with Sharks |
As Clark studies sharks, illustrations expand on the text and provide further information about sharks. When Lang describes the Cape Haze Marine Laboratory, Solano's illustrations help the reader visualize the shark pen connected to the open ocean and Clark's research process.
 |
| Clark at Cape Haze Marine Laboratory in Swimming with Sharks |
Lang also incorporates
quotations from Clark into the text to create a compelling factual narrative.
 |
| Clark holding shark jaw in Swimming with Sharks |
Brief back matter provides further information about Clark's life and sharks. An author’s note addresses Clark's struggle and determination to become a respected expert as a Japanese-American woman, and a more about sharks section explains the importance of sharks in the earth's ecosystem. Photographs of Clark at work and selected sources round out the additional information. Swimming with Sharks is an excellent read-aloud that encourages children
to explore and be curious about the world around them.
Source: Library Copy
Book Trailer:
Further Reading:
- Heather Lang Books "Genie's Notebook Pages!"
- Writers' Rumpus "Meet Heather Lang, Children's Author of Lesser-Known Women"
- Smithsonian Ocean "Eugenie Clark - The Shark Lady"
- National Ocean Service "Dr. Eugenie Clark (1922-2015)
- Thirteen Forum "The Lady and the Sharks: An Evening with Eugenie Clark"
- Dr. Eugenie Clark on Mote
- Life in the Ocean: The Story of Oceanographer Sylvia Earle by Claire A. Nivola
- Manfish: A Story of Jacques Cousteau by Jennifer Berne
- Shark Lady: The True Story of How Eugenie Clark Became the Ocean's Most Fearless Scientist by Jess Keating
- Women Who Dared: 52 Fearless Daredevils, Adventurers & Rebels by Linda Skeers
Laura,
ReplyDeleteI loved all of the additional resources and media you included in this blog post. The book seems wonderful based on your description--educational and accurate, with beautiful illustrations. But these added components lead to so many ideas of how to use this book in a wider context--within an educational unit, perhaps, or in a display with related books such as the readalikes you've mentioned.
Thanks, Katrina. I like to include creator interviews in my postings because I enjoy learning about the process of making picture books. I'm always impressed by how much thought and time goes into these relatively short works. I think it would be great to pair this with a virtual lesson from the Mote Marine Laboratory (which Clark founded) to demonstrate how much of an impact Clark had on the field of oceanography.
DeleteI recently checked out "Shark Lady," and I am amazed at how many picture biographies are written about the same person. Do you think one is better than the other, or should they be read in conjunction? The book trailer was awesome! That trailer would have my shark loving son interested in a heartbeat.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed both "Shark Lady" and "Swimming with Sharks" and would definitely read both of them. I chose to review "Swimming with Sharks" because I was captivated by Solano's color palette and the sense of wonder in spreads like the fish tank one I included or the closing one of Clark peering out of a submersible into the ocean as "she never stopped pressing her face against the glass and wondering." I think "Shark Lady" focused more on Clark's determination to overcome obstacles and learn about sharks, and I especially liked the back matter.
Delete