Review by Booklist Review
An egotistical great white shark introduces himself as the greatest and then is contradicted by all the other sharks. Whale Shark asserts he is the biggest; Dwarf Lantern Shark, the smallest; Hammerhead professes to be the smartest; Angel Shark startles everyone as the sneakiest; Tiger Shark declares himself the best hunter; Greenland Shark, the oldest; and Mako Shark demonstrates he's the fastest. After perusing some shark facts, Great White decides to promote his toothy grin as his best feature. Holub's narrative, delivered almost entirely in first-person dialogue, does a good job distinguishing among these species, as well as ascribing personality to each. The overall tone is humorous, but information is prominent as well. Keller's digitally enhanced illustrations are a delight. Many include collaged shapes, and her clever use of patterns denotes shading and scales on some species. Facial features and expressive, oversize eyes also help to convey the story's humor. Appended with additional facts, further reading, and advice ("don't swim too close"), this makes a good introduction to a perennial hot topic.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
They may be known as the Great White Shark, but when the protagonist of this finny compendium tries to assert their supremacy as "The Greatest Shark in this book," they run into some stiff opposition. Challengers include the Whale Shark and the Dwarf Lantern Shark, who marshal evidence to prove they are biggest and smallest, respectively; and a persuasive assertion by Tiger Shark that on top of being the ocean's best hunter, "They call me the garbage can of the ocean. It's because I gobble other stuff too. One time I ate a clock and a car tire. True story." Keller's (Hello, Arnie!) traditional and digital collaging lifts this above the standard taxonomies: while the sharks all have endearing googly eyes and oodles of comic pride, they're also visually imaginative--the Whale Shark is especially impressive, with a surface that resembles an elaborate mosaic of round purple, blue, and gray tiles. If the inserted shark facts disrupt the final act of Holub's (This Little Rainbow) high-spirited one-upping, there's plenty in this lively readaloud to scratch the target audience's itch for deep category knowledge. Back matter includes shark facts and additional resources. Ages 4--8. (May)
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Review by School Library Journal Review
K-Gr 5--If there were a competition for what's the greatest kind of shark, which species would be the winner? This fun and exuberant book aims to answer that question. The great white shark assumes he's the greatest, since he has "great" right in his name, but other sharks set him straight--he's not the fastest or the oldest or the biggest or the smallest. Each double-page spread shows the great white shark compared to another shark. The images demonstrate the scale of each shark as well as the coloration. The artwork is brightly colored and humanizes the sharks to emphasize the great white's disappointment with not being the greatest, to the amusement of readers. The conversation between the sharks is engaging enough to keep readers moving forward. There is a wonderfully detailed diagram of a shark's body as well as a double-page spread of shark facts. Future ichthyologists will spend hours poring over this book and, because of its friendly artwork, even kids who find sharks scary will be willing to read a story that's this much fun. VERDICT Don't miss this one. Kids are going to love reading this book and memorizing the facts, and teachers will love using this as a new kind of model for sharing informational texts.--Debbie Tanner, S.D. Spady Montessori Elem., FL
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Review by Horn Book Review
In this colorful undersea tale, Keller's digitally rendered collages introduce a comical protagonist playing against type: a cheerful, smiling Great White Shark. Not satisfied with just being Great, our hero aims for bragging rights as the greatest shark in the book. But each time it tries to claim superiority, another shark steals its glory and contradicts these assumptions. For example, the Whale Shark announces it is the greatest because it is the biggest. So our Great White thinks perhaps it is the smallest, but, alas, that title goes to the Dwarf Lantern Shark. Maybe the smartest? Oops, that's the Hammerhead Shark. The fastest? Nope, the Mako wins by a nose in an amusing race. As the roll call continues, each new superlative shark reveals relevant facts about itself, such as the Whale Shark's declaration that it is the size of a school bus. Still seeking fame, the Great White studies an informative diagram of its anatomy to discover its greatest asset: those pearly whites, giving it the greatest smile. Young shark enthusiasts diving into Holub's fact-filled and humorous book can expand their knowledge with the suggested readings and websites appended; the book also includes a double-page compilation of "fintastic" shark facts. Betty Carter July/August 2021 p.85(c) Copyright 2021. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
Swim in the world of sharks with this fact-filled picture book. The great white shark may not actually be that great. A representative of the species is the narrator of this informative picture book, but each time the shark attempts to claim great status--biggest, sneakiest, fastest, etc.--another shark from a different species lays claim to that title. As the conversation continues, readers will learn facts about great whites as well as a smattering of information about their cousins. The book's one-upmanship tone is humorous and will amuse readers who may be familiar with similar conversations in the schoolyard or at home among siblings. Adept educators and librarians may be able to use this book for smaller-group storytimes, but the detailed artwork is best suited for the lap, allowing readers to pore over the cheerful, collaged illustrations. A small list of recommended reading will help caregivers find more information about sharks--a great addition because many readers will be bitten by curiosity. The introduction of a bear-y unusual sea creature at the conclusion tantalizes readers with the possibility of a sequel. This title will be swimming off the shelves. (Informational picture book. 6-12) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
