Face to Face with Sharks

by David Doubilet, Jennifer Hayes

It is man’s greatest fear—being eaten alive. And diving down here in the depths, the streamlined shark holds every advantage. How close do you want to get?

Acclaimed underwater photographer David Doubilet takes you deep into their dangerous realm. Yet he points out that it is we who are the killers! Our fear and ignorance puts this diverse family of fish in great danger. Let David teach you about sharks’ complex nature, and about how you can help to save the shark.

Genres: Animals, Nonfiction, Picture Books, Childrens

32 pages, Hardcover

First published February 10, 2009

Reviews

[Rebekah Waggoner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Informational
4th-7th

I really loved the photographs in this book. Both the author and illustrator did an amazing job capturing great pictures of the many different types of sharks. I love how the book has many facts within, but it also has personal stories from people who have been very close to sharks. I feel that this teaches more and makes the book that much more engaging for readers of all ages. All in all this is a fun book about sharks that could spark interest in sharks and ocean life in general.

[Samarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Informational
4th-7th

I really really loved the photographs in this book. Both the author and illustrator did an amazing job capturing some great pictures of many different sharks. I love how the book has many facts within, but it also has personal stories from people who have been very close to sharks. I feel that this teaches more and makes the book engaging for readers of all ages. All in all this is a fun book about sharks.

[Haley Hoenke · Rating 2 out of 5]

Science, nature, Sharks

[Andrea Flory · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is good for grades 5-6. It had a lot of good information about Sharks and the pictures are really good in this book they are almost real like. If a student was doing a report on sharks, they could get a lot of good information out of this book. The genre of this book is informational.

[Teresa Scherping Moulton · Rating 4 out of 5]

When most people think of sharks, they probably picture a scary great white shark. But did you know that there are hundreds of species of sharks, in all shapes and sizes, from the 40-foot-long whale shark to the six-inch-long lantern shark? There is a wobbegong shark that looks like a bath mat, and a cookie cutter shark that takes perfectly round bites out of its prey. Some sharks are even safe enough to swim with! Many sharks are also in danger of going extinct because of overfishing and pollution, and there are things you can do to help save these amazing creatures. One thing you can do is learn all you can about sharks, and you can start by reading this book!

I thought this was a great introduction to sharks from some people who are clearly very passionate about them. This book gives interesting information and stories from the authors' experiences with sharks, written at a kid's level. I also love that it gives kids realistic things that they can do to help save sharks. Even as someone who didn't think I liked sharks, I found a lot of this book fascinating.

I would recommend this book to grades 3-5, especially those who like learning about animals and the environment. I would obviously recommend it to shark fans, but I think even animal lovers who say they don't like sharks could have their minds changed!

[babyhippoface · Rating 5 out of 5]

Professional nature photographers David Doubilet and Jennifer Hayes have captured some stunning photographs of sharks in their natural habitats. Facts on many different species of shark are interwoven with stories of personal shark encounters by the authors, making for engaging reading as well as outstanding visuals. A section entitled, “How You Can Help” encourages students to get involved in wildlife conservation. There is enough information here for a solid start to elementary student research projects, and the bibliography provides additional resources. This outstanding series by National Geographic deserves a spot on the shelf of every upper-elementary library.

[Patricia Leon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a great resource for students and teachers alike; because it is laid out in an easy to follow format. It is geared towards fifth-graders, but can be used with younger children due to the detailed photography presented. It incorporates the use of important vocabulary words, captions, shark facts, and even includes a bibliography. Also, pertinent information is provided, and further broken down by shark species, and behaviors. Additionally, there are sections included regarding the authors shark adventures, and conservation efforts currently underway. This is a wonderfully crafted, detailed book I would incorporate in my classroom library.

[Tricia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This National Geographic title contains excellent photos as a highlight to text written by ocean photographers about their experiences. Includes facts about sharks but also personal stories and a chapter on conservation which shares dangers that shark species face as more sharks are killed than born throughout the world.

[Patrick Martin · Rating 2 out of 5]

I bought this for my nephew and when he was done I read it as well. It's a children's book with lots of pictures but also a good bit of information. It was a breeze to read and didn't take long at all. My nephew enjoyed it and I found it educational and would recommend it for other children interested in sharks.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great book that challenged my 7 year olds reading level, but didn't discourage her. She loved all the shark facts, and the photos that were amazing. I mean it's National Geographic, right!? We started with an easy reader about sharks, and she is hooked.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Out of the 7 shark books we read this week, this was my favorite and more importantly my son's favorite - great photos and information.

[Courtney K · Rating 1 out of 5]

My son thinks it's so funny to make me read things to him that TERRIFY me. Now, I know two new things about sharks to be afraid of: some sharks CAN come in fresh water and cookie-cutter sharks.