Mother of Sharks

by Melissa Cristina Márquez, Devin Elle Kurtz (Illustrator)

Forbes 30 Under 30 Honoree and globally renowned shark scientist Melissa Cristina Márquez teams up with award-winning illustrator Devin Elle Kurtz to create an informative, powerful picture book that explores Melissa's personal journey from being an inquisitive ocean-loving child in Puerto Rico to becoming the Mother of Sharks.

As the sun sets over another gorgeous day at la Playita Del Condado in Puerto Rico, Meli doesn't want to go home. She loves the ocean more than anything, and with only five minutes left at the beach, she knows exactly where her last stop should be: the tidal pools. They are small universes of their own teeming with critters and creatures of the ocean. While looking into the pools, she meets a crab, Jaiba, who takes her on a dreamlike underwater adventure, teaches her about the importance of shark conservation, and reveals Meli's ultimate destiny: to become the Mother of Sharks.


Blending the autobiographical with the fantastical, Melissa Cristina Márquez shares her incredible story not only to dispel myths about these misunderstood creatures but also to pave the way for Latinas in STEM. Paired with Devin Elle Kurtz's vibrant, emotive illustrations, this picture book is an irresistible journey through the wonders of the ocean and, above all, a rallying cry for marine conservation.

Genres: Picture Books, Animals, Latinx, Childrens, Nature, Science, Stem

48 pages, Hardcover

First published May 30, 2023

About the author

Known as the "Mother of Sharks," Melissa Cristina Márquez is a Latina marine biologist who has a lot of labels: science communicator, conservationist, author, educator, podcaster, television presenter. You might have seen her on Discovery Channel's Shark Week, National Geographic, BBC Wildlife, heard herTEDx talk or read her Scholastic books.

Márquez writes about sharks, the diverse people who work with them, and why both matter. As founder of The Fins United Initiative, a program that teaches audiences shark conservation and education, she finds it vital that we learn to co-exist with these oceanic predators.

Reviews

[Irono Yami · Rating 5 out of 5]

came for DEK art, stayed for MEM story

[Miranda Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Then the tide pool began to bubble...and rumble..."

Meli loves the ocean - she spends as much time as she can playing on the sand, checking out the tidal pools and dreaming of what she will be when she gets older.

Then one day, she meets Jaiba - a little hermit crab - who takes her on a whirlwind adventure to show young Meli her destiny - to become the Mother of Sharks.

This book was BEAUTIFUL. The color pallet, the expressions, the flowy-art-style - the pictures is really what bumped it up to 4 stars.

The story was pretty good, though a bit wordy, and tells the true story of Melissa Cristina Márquez and how she paved the way for many Latinas to join STEM and the marine biology field.

Overall, the writing has a wonderful message and those illustrations - incredible.

[Caro D. · Rating 5 out of 5]

J’ai choisi ce court livre destiné aux enfants de 5 à 8 ans pour pratiquer mon espagnol et aussi en raison de mon intérêt pour la mer et sa faune. Les images sont magnifiques, vraiment superbes ! J’ai beaucoup apprécié l’histoire, même si je n’ai pas compris tous les mots. Avec encore un peu de pratique, je m’améliorerai. Comme j’ai acheté ce livre, il va me suivre pendant longtemps. J’ai vu que l’auteure et l’illustrateur ont sorti un deuxième tome, que je vais certainement acheter. J’aimerais bien qu’ils sortent un jour un tome pour les 8-12 ans.

[Nora · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you ever wanted to know or explore another city that wasn’t a conventional one, then this is the book for you! Mother of Sharks by Melissa Cristina Márquez is a children’s book that explores the depths of the ocean, its various animals, and plants that inhabit it. It’s a fantsy book because of other aspects us readers see and the conversation between animals and humans. There were two big themes that were hard to miss: encouraging yourself to ask questions and helping the environment and ocean. Meli was a young girl who loved to explore the ocean; she often found herself playing in it to find different animals or plants she had never encountered before. The first theme plays a huge role in this. On her discoveries in the ocean, she met a crab named Hiba. This crab was very informed about the state of the ocean, and Meli made no hesitation to ask the questions she wanted. Throughout their journey, she always allowed her curiosity to lead her because she wanted to learn more. The second theme or message was awareness of the ocean. Hiba showed how sad animal environments looked due to the waste left behind by fishers. A shark was stuck in a net, and Meli removed it from the shark, demonstrating that waste harms marine life greatly. In terms of lessons that can be derived, the first one is following your heart and allowing your imagination to explore its depths. What I mean by this is that Meli eventually saw herself in the future as someone who followed her dreams and was able to achieve safety for marine life and explore the ocean. This teaches young kids that it is possible to achieve your goals if you are dedicated. The second lesson that can be taken is to not add to the pollution of wildlife. It was sad to see many homes destroyed due to oil and nets trapping marine animals. It’s important to not add to destroying the environment but to help limit it, this could be done through volunteering or informing others of the dangers it has on marine life. This is a ‘WOW ‘book to me because of its messages it contains of saving the environment and following ones' curiosities.

This book relied heavily on two of the main characters, Meli and Jaiba. I want to acknowledge the dialogue that took place between the two of them. They often had conversations about bettering the environment, but Jaiba was also very encouraging of Meli's passion for questioning what goes on. “‘Can people really do this for a job -study sharks and help protect them?’ I asked Jaiba. He nodded and said, ‘Let me show you someone who does just that.’ Jaiba transported us to a theater...” This shows the author was trying to build a relationship within the book for the readers to see that was positive. Why might Melissa Márquez want to do this? It encourages young children to follow their dreams, and it allows them to understand the importance of asking questions. The second writer's craft I noticed was when Márquez stated, “The silky turquoise waters of LA,” and “spiky sea urchins and fuzzy seagrass swaying.” These types of phrases were often used throughout the book, and they allowed us as readers to fully picture what was going on. Imagery was such a huge element Márquez added to the book. Although the illustrations were beautiful, the descriptive language allowed both children and myself to further our imaginations. The third writer's craft I noticed was symbolism at the end with her abuela’s necklace. “…pulled out from behind her scarf. It was my necklace! The one Abuela gave me. A giant smile spread across each of our faces - the same smile.” This was a full-circle moment. From the mention of the necklace at the beginning to the end of the book, it was intentional. This necklace symbolized that anything is possible because the mother of sharks also had the same one (because that was her in the future). It also represents courage because the necklace gave her the confidence and bravery to go explore the world and reassured her that she is capable of doing so. This is an anti-bias book because it had roots in Meli’s culture and showed a Spanish-speaking conversation between her and her mother. It also breaks stereotypes by showing that people who support marine life and are scientists come from all around the world and from different backgrounds.

[Connor Watling · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really Beautiful book. Great for young kids interested in animals, or older kids looking for inspiration to follow their dreams.

Being a picture book it is simple enough for multiple ages, with the beautiful illustrations being appealing to all, but I suspect the book will result in many questions about the ocean and kids getting an interest in marine life from the beautiful images. Melissa’s life is certainly and interesting one and I can appreciate how She has used lived experience to show young people that their paths may not always be what they expect but that life can and should Be filled with adventure

Would Recommend to any young people, especially young Latinx people with whom I believe will resonate with the representation in this book, who are interested in STEM, marine science or simply are looking for a strong female role model.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderfully adventurous book about a young Hispanic girl learning about the ocean and sharks. She has never seen anyone that looks like her as a scientist and is amazed that fighting for the safety of sharks is something she can strive for. Beautifully illustrated and full of hope and imagination.

[Ash · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay so the art is incredible (can't expect any less from Devin Elle Kurtz) but the story is also genuine and heartfelt! Is it corny to say it touched me deeply??? Anyway I love sharks

[Christine Joy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful, inspirational, and informative story! The illustrations are gorgeous too!

[Ashley Stevens · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beautiful illustrations

[Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish I would have had a book like this when I was younger. My love for sharks didn't start until I was much older than Melissa, but now I tell people that if I were to go back in time and choose a different major in college, I probably would go into marine biology to study sharks. Gorgeous art and a great way to show kids that sharks aren't scary and need our help!

[Jessica Calaway · Rating 4 out of 5]

years 8-12 -> Mixed in with SP words and talks a bout diversity in science.

[Princess Isabelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

This could be my second to last new book of the year. Very wholesome and encouraging but it was longer than expected and lagged in parts because of it but the art almost made up for it. I wish I liked the ocean more and reading this book didn't help that cause as much as I'd hoped it would

[Ms. B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Blurs the lines between picture book, nonfiction and memoir/biography. Scientist Melissa Cristina Márquez writes a picture book that celebrates women in science; especially Latina, the wonders of the ocean and envisioning your goals & dreams.
Fans of The Little Mermaid will enjoy this hybrid book which crosses Márquez's young self's goals and dreams with a glimpse of her future self through a talking hermit crab. There's a lot you can learn from a picture book.

[Shannon Bedore · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an excellent story that provides representation for hispanic women, but also teaches children about the effects of climate change on marine life. When a little girl named Melissa is swimming in the water one day, she goes over by a rock for her last five minutes of swim time and is suddenly speaking to a hermit crab who brings her underwater magically. She loves the vibrant colors, but they soon fade away as she comes across bleached coral reefs and a shark stuck in a plastic net. After helping free him, she asks the hermit crab about the dullness. He then takes her to different settings like a bedroom and library to teach her about sharks and why we need to do a better job of protecting them to keep our oceans healthy. When she meets a woman who looks like her that is trying to save sharks for a living, she feels inspired and follows her along to learn about what she does exactly to help sharks. Then, the woman suddenly speaks to her and gives her a familiar necklace, which Melissa realizes is the one she has from her Abuela. She then connects the dots and realizes why she loves the ocean so much since her Abuela used to help sharks. Then, she comes out of the dream-like state she was in and leaves the water for the day with many ideas for what she hopes to do when she grows up.

I would use this book in my classroom during a read-aloud session either on Earth Day or just to talk about environmental issues with my students. This story is very engaging in its illustrations and storytelling, so I think it would be a perfect pick for starting to discuss climate change and how pollution is affecting our oceans and marine life. This may inspire some students to try helping in their own way or consider going into this field when they grow up.

[McKenzie Richardson · Rating 3 out of 5]

For more bookish opinions, visit my blog: Craft-Cycle

A beautiful example of the power of representation and the joy of doing what you love.

This book is an interesting mashup of a semi-autobiographical story mixed with magic and time travel. Meli loves exploring the waters of la Playita del Condado, especially the tidal pools. When she meets a talking crab, they go on a magical adventure that will take them through the coral reefs, to the bottom of the sea, and even through time.

I really liked the messages of the book. It shows the importance of representation and diversity, encourages children to follow their dreams even if they don't see a lot of people who look like them in their field of interest, and promotes environmentalism and conservation. And of course, there are sharks. Always a plus.

There is so much packed into this book. But because of that, it became quite wordy and lost focus. The writing was quite clunky. Would work better for older kids as it is a pretty lengthy picture book.

Having said that, the artwork is absolutely beautiful. Each spread was breathtaking. Wonderful blending of fantasy and reality.

At the back is a note from the author, more information about different sharks mentioned in the book, a list of organizations, and translations of the the Spanish words and phrases used.

Overall, I loved the messages of the book, but the execution was very wordy. I think its scope was just too broad. Still an important addition to promote a love of science and encourage readers to ask questions.

[ihaveabook4that · Rating 5 out of 5]

🌊Today is World Oceans Day!

Initially I was excited to share this book with you all. Now I’m hesitant, because I don’t think I can do it Justice. I’ll try.

🦈Mother of Sharks🦈

This is one of the most beautiful books I’ve read this year.

🌊Let’s start with the illustrations! This is artist Devin Elle Kurtz’s debut picture book, and I hope it won’t be her last. The vivid art transports you into the story and makes you feel like you’re living the experiences of the characters.

I don’t think I’ve ever read a picture book like this. It’s an autobiography mixed with fantasy and facts about the ocean and its inhabitants. The writing is AMAZING! The author’s use of figurative language makes this a nice mentor text for the classroom.

🌊As the sun sets, young Meli has only 5 minutes left at her favorite place, the beach. While enjoying the remainder of her time, she meets a talking crab that takes her on an underwater adventure. As they explore, he teaches her the importance of protecting sharks and reveals young Meli’s future as the mother of sharks!

In her letter to the reader, Melissa shares that she wrote this book to encourage readers to protect our waters and to pave the way for Latinas in science.

🌊In addition to the letter to readers, the back matter includes a shark glossary, resources, and Spanish to English translations.

Needless to say, you should buy this book!

[Emily Marcus · Rating 5 out of 5]

To be up front: this book is not about sharks. It features some shark species and Marquez dealing with sharks, and some may think it's a book about sharks, but the title clearly says 'Mother of Sharks,' indicating that the book is about her (and the blurb speaks to that as well).

And what an incredible new 'layer' we are seeing from Marquez - a slight departure from what the author normally writes. Her pairing up with this illustrator was the right choice as the words on the page were brought to life thanks to the vivid illustrations. Another reviewer said it perfectly: the art from this book could be hung up! But this review isn't about the art (which is exquisite) but the content. I really enjoyed how Marquez interwove her own biography into the 'fantastical,' showing us her younger self seeing her future until... well, I won't spoil it for y'all, loveys. The pages after the story also really teaches youngings about the different sharks breeds, their importance, and a little bit more about Marquez.

Would I buy this for the littles in my life? Yes, in both languages. I think it's a great example of dreaming big and who knows where your dreams will take you. Marquez is an inspiring Latine role model for both those who identify as Latine but also those who do not. Well written book, I look forward to any future titles she puts out.

[Bethany · Rating 5 out of 5]

When it's time to go home, one little girl isn't ready to leave the water. She loves marine life and all it starts is with a hermit crab and a dive underwater. As she explores, she finds herself fascinated by sharks after saving one from a net. Using both imagination and curiosity, she finds herself wanting to know more and more about them.

MOTHER OF SHARKS is a beautifully illustrated children's book that shows how Melissa Cristina Márquez became a shark enthusiasts and shows children ways they can help save them too. Sharks are unique creatures and while this book doesn't really teach about sharks, it showcases their magnificence. The illustrations are breath-taking and this story encourages children to think differently about sharks. The reader can tell how much Melissa cares for them through her lyrical writing. We also get an added lesson in Spanish for those who aren't fluent in it.


Final Verdict: I would recommend this to children ages four and up who love sharks and marine life. Who knows, this book may even steer them onto the path of becoming a marine biologist themselves.

[Holly Pretzel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I initially found Melissa Cristina Márquez from a YouTube video that popped up about shark attack scenes in movies. Finding her really likeable, I looked up more videos with her and followed her on social media. She had beautifully designed stories with engaging content. All that to say, I've been following her for years and was SO excited when I saw this children's book come out.

I swore the illustrator, Devin Elle Kurtz, was award-winning but apparently, this was her debut. Whether she is or not, she deserves to be. The pictures are as ethereal as the story.

A dreamlike sequence of events that borrows from real life shares how Melissa came to be The Mother of Sharks. I am a big fan of a bilingual book and while this isn't entirely bilingual, it has realistic components that use her native tongue. What I appreciate, as a child who loved learning other languages, is that there are translations of the words and phrases used in the back. What I love as a wildlife educator, are the blurbs about sharks in the end matter, though I wish they were longer. I'll always wish they were longer but what they use are bite-sized facts about sharks that someone will easily remember and share.

Finally, love love love the resources at the end. A not insignificant part of the book is that Melissa never saw herself represented in science as a child. I think it's an admirable and necessary feat to leave the path open for others to follow. These resources form communities that we desperately need on every level.

Really love this book. I knew I would. Highly recommend to quite literally everyone. The all-Spanish version is going in my cart right now.

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

This may well be one of the most beautiful books I’ve had the pleasure of reading.

The cover alone made me want to buy this book but the interior is where it really comes to life. The words and illustrations dance together in perfect harmony and flow through the book, taking the reader with them, as they tell a beautiful tale that is both heartwarming and filled with hope.

I’m rather partial to beautiful art and perhaps the book would have been worth it for this alone. But it’s quite clear to see how the words have inspired that art and how the main character, Meli, is brought to life in such a perfect way. Very early in the book, Meli is pictured climbing into a rock pool in which a hermit crab is living and the eager way she does so captures so much in one go.

This is a book that not only tells part of Meli’s story, it shows that there is beauty in the natural world that can be appreciated and studied by anyone, no matter their background. It’s also a magical book that children will be enchanted by.

If you haven’t already guessed, I thoroughly recommend this book.

[Maya · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautiful book. I wanted to read it for a while now, finally got to it, and this book just made me so happy. The illustrations are absolutely stunning, and the story is really nice. It's pretty simple, but I'd expect that from a children's book, and for how simple it was, it was very informative at the same time. And also just amazing. I really liked the magical element to it, and even though I saw the end coming and knew what would happen, that didn't take away from the story at all. I really enjoyed it. I may also have shed a tear or two, because books like this one make me incredibly emotional.
Also sometimes a few words or a sentence was in Spanish, which I thought might be a problem for me, because I never really got anywhere with learning it, but I understood everything perfectly fine, so I'd say you don't actually have to know Spanish, the meaning is clear enough from context.
Lovely characters, amazing art, a great massage/nice story to go with it, and just all in all so good.
I'm so happy I finally had the chance to read the book, it was lovely!

[Jared White · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful book that is loosely based on a Hispanic scientist's childhood experience... Okay, that wasn't a good description, the inside flap does a better job, "Blending the autobiographical with the fantastical, Melissa Cristina Márquez shares her incredible story..." And that blend between those two is lovely, how the story is conveyed is engaging, and the illustrations are gorgeous (mostly realistic but also slightly fantastical).

There is quite a lot of text, so I'm not sure I would even use this with most lower elementary school students (unless it was one-on-one or a very small group of book lovers) but I think this could work well in an upper elementary or middle-school storytime. Perhaps it could be paired with one of the author's TED talks or a short biography book about her.

[Maiss Lukyana · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Mother of Sharks" is a perfect book for children who are in 1st grade to 2nd grade. The fantasy aspect (underwater, creatures, etc.) is very magical, and something kids in those grades enjoy and dream about; This will help them stay interested in the material.

It is especially inspiring to young girls. This book shows a young girl Meli who loves the ocean over anything. She meets a crab that takes her on an adventure where she sees all these sharks. Meli becomes the mother of sharks. The book is also great due to its representation of young Latin girls, and its inclusion of a Latin heroine.

I selected this book for my library for many reasons. I think the role model aspect of it is good, as it shows children to look for dreams to come true. I also enjoy how it shows information about shark conservation.

[Debs Daniels · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just wow! More than any other book, this makes me feel like I have someone's art in my home. The color palette, the characters, the brilliant artwork is breathtaking!!!

The author has written an engaging story that teaches kids about sharks and the ocean. It's a true story of a powerful latina who is making an impact on the world. The personal aspect of this glimpse into the author's childhood makes this more magical. A real live heroine enters into a magical world as she's transported by a hermit crab into the oceans deep where she discovers sharks. This story gives kids permission to dream that they can do big things. The author is someone you can be happy having your child look up to as a personal heroine. This book is a win all around!

[Trinity · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think that the intended grade for this book is kindergarten through 3rd grade. This is a book about Meli, a young girl living in Puerto Rico. She loves the ocean more than anything. She meets a crab, Jaiba, who takes her on an adventure and teaches her about the importance of sharks in the ocean. Meli then wants to be the mother of sharks and wants to protect them. Meli explores the ocean more and more each day and goes through her own personal journey. I chose this book as a read aloud for my class. This book is an incredible story about myths that people may think are true. Most importantly, this book paves the way of Latinas in STEM. This book shows young children that you can pursue your dreams. You can use your imagination to do anything, but one day it can become a reality

[Carrie O · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stunning illustrations, opening up the world of ocean sciences to young girls.

Ages 5-8... a beautiful opening into the sciences of the ocean, specifically sharks, with an appeal toward women of color.

The illustrations are beyond gorgeous. You could find the story with those alone. The text is age appropriate, although I found it a bit heavy-handed... lacking subtlety, spoon-feeding the reader when it could have allowed them to intuit its conclusions naturally. (The power of the visuals would have been more than enough.) The translation of phrases, in the back of the book, was a nice touch. As well as the additional specifics on various types of sharks.

Overall, a pleasing book to entice young girls toward stem disciplines.

[A Allen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had to read this one more than once to really appreciate it. Meli finds a hermit crab and is suddenly being whisked underwater and to different parts of the world to see bleached coral reefs, a shark stuck in a fishing net, and more. In the end Meli meets her future self, a Hispanic scientist who teaches people to care for sharks around the world! Turns out that the book is written by Meli! "Blending the autobiographical with the fantastical," the front cover explains. I appreciate the glossary and translations in the back of the book. Thank you, Márquez, for paving the way for Latinas in STEM.

[Dina · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book encouraging STEM careers and interests is always good! The main character, Meli, meets Jaiba, a hermit crab while at la Playita del Condado in Puerto Rico. Meli, whose mom gave her five more minutes before going home, meets Jaiba who takes her to the tide pool where they swim toward an underwater city. From there, Meli learns about bleached coral, ghost gear in the ocean, different kinds of sharks, and more. Meli even learns that kids grow up and study sharks and protect them for a job. Excellent storyline and beautiful illustrations! I am excited to share this book with my students.

[Kathryn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wish I enjoyed this more but it missed the mark for me. The illustrations are beautiful, and the author's heart is in the right place, but it was too all-over-the-place for me. It's part autobiography, part environmental plea, part shark-lesson, part fantasy... but I didn't feel any of it was in-depth enough to fully resonate and the kids and I really, really wanted more about the actual sharks. It appears most other reviewers loved this, so don't ignore it if the description appeals to you.

[Sarah Mousel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I normally don’t rate books because. I just use goodreads to track when I read. But I have to rate this one.

As a little girl who grew up loving the ocean and loving sharks, even from the Midwest… this book is so beautiful. I cried reading it. Melissa is one of my favorite shark scientists & I have followed her on socials for awhile now. She inspires not just kids, but all people to love sharks, ask questions, and chase their dreams.