For STEM Friday this week, we have a middle grade book, The Great Shark Rescue: Saving the Whale Sharks by one of our favorite authors, Sandra Markle.
Whale sharks are not only the biggest fish in the world, but also the coolest sharks because they feed by vacuuming up tons of the smallest creatures in the water (see pages 18-19). Unfortunately, along with many other fascinating creatures, their numbers are plummeting and they have recently become endangered.
Markle gives numbers and explicit reasons why the populations are in decline. Sometimes the sharks are caught is nets during legal fishing while at other times they are killed by people who fish for sharks illegally. Climate change is also a factor. Scientists want to try to help the sharks, but they know little about them. It is a race to learn about whale sharks before they disappear.
In the back matter we learn that wrote the book based on interviews with experts (see “Source Notes.”) Sandra Markle makes a point of using only primary sources, if she can (see post about meeting her at the Tucson Book Festival.)
The Great Shark Rescue will thrill budding marine biologists as well as those interested in conserving endangered species. Realistically, this title could work with upper elementary readers as well as middle grade. It could be a great addition to your shelf.
Related:
- Read an excerpt at Lerner
- Check out all the ocean science activities under our ocean category at Growing With Science
- Want to learn more about ocean animals? See our growing list of ocean-themed children’s books at Science Books for Kids.
Age Range: 9 – 12 years
Series: Sandra Markle’s Science Discoveries
Publisher: Millbrook Press TM (October 1, 2019)
ISBN-10: 1541510410
ISBN-13: 978-1541510418
Disclosure: This book was provided by our local library. Also, I am an affiliate with Amazon so I can provide you with cover images and links to more information about books and products. As you probably are aware, if you click through the highlighted title link and purchase a product, I will receive a very small commission, at no extra cost to you. Any proceeds help defray the costs of hosting and maintaining this website.
Come visit the STEM Friday blog each week to find more great Science, Technology, Engineering and Math books.Opens in a new window Note: this is a new link as of 1/2019.