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"The Shark: Silent Hunter" by Renee Le Bloas-Julienne

Author:

Renee Le Bloas-Julienne

Publisher:

Charlesbridge Publishing, Watertown, MA. 2007

Reviewed by:

Stephanie Orvis, Racine Zoo

Originally published in French and translated by Elizabeth Uhlig, this book ventures into the underwater world of the shark. Many aspects of the animals are encompassed including shark senses, diets, general anatomy, and hunting and mating routines. The delivery of information in the book is enjoyable, being provided in two ways: in a narrative in side columns and in an occasional fun fact in the captions of the pictures. However, despite the title – which implies a look at many species of shark – the book seems to concentrate on only one species: the gray reef shark. Until the last few pages, where photos of other shark species are shown, the gray reef shark is almost exclusively discussed. The photos throughout the book (provided by the BIOS Agency) are vivid and clear vividly showing the world in which the shark lives. In fact, the entire book is colorful and draws the attention of the reader. Perhaps the author was trying to explain that sharks are not vicious, but the book seems to instill a bit of a sense of fear of the animals by using terms like “terrifying,” “fierce,” and “deadly hunters.” On a positive note, the author does explain to the reader what to do in the case of a shark encounter. A definite plus for the book is that it provides sources for further research on sharks if it is desired. Both books and websites to check out are provided.