What do you think?
Rate this book
Shark! (Timothy Pope) #1
Shark in the Park
Timothy Pope has a brand new telescope and he's testing it out at the park. Children will delight in peeping through the die-cut holes and guessing what Tim has spotted. Is that really a shark he can see? Turn the page and find out . . .
16 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2000
11 people are currently reading
644 people want to read
About the author
Nick Sharratt
435 books129 followersNick Sharratt is the author-illustrator of numerous books for children, including The Foggy, Foggy Forest and Dinosaurs’ Day Out.
He grew up in Suffolk, Nottinghamshire and Manchester, with his four siblings. He attended Manchester Polytechnic (now called Manchester Metropolitan University) where he completed an art foundation course. He was trained in graphic design at St. Martin's School of Art and took his later inspiration from the pop and graphic art of the 1960s, which he experienced as a child.
He lives in Brighton, England.
He grew up in Suffolk, Nottinghamshire and Manchester, with his four siblings. He attended Manchester Polytechnic (now called Manchester Metropolitan University) where he completed an art foundation course. He was trained in graphic design at St. Martin's School of Art and took his later inspiration from the pop and graphic art of the 1960s, which he experienced as a child.
He lives in Brighton, England.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 135 reviews
August 16, 2017
That came as a surprise!
Children are made to watch through a telescope for some potential shark views just to find out otherwise! Rhymes and theme, loved both of them. Illustrations were perfect. Read it to surprise yourself.
Children are made to watch through a telescope for some potential shark views just to find out otherwise! Rhymes and theme, loved both of them. Illustrations were perfect. Read it to surprise yourself.
June 6, 2016
Loved it!
Cute, colorful illustrations, rhymes, and of course, Timothy Pope with his new telescope, thinking everything he sees in the park looks like a shark :)
Cute, colorful illustrations, rhymes, and of course, Timothy Pope with his new telescope, thinking everything he sees in the park looks like a shark :)
September 7, 2016
It's a lot of fun and invites the involved read. The "shark" in each case turns out to be something else, but this is not just a rewrite of the boy who cried wolf. There is ambiguity and readers are encouraged to see beyond the obvious fear discourses available to them (in a cosy situation where making mistakes is ok).
A book that destabilises the obvious (and simple enough for two year olds to enjoy)
A book that destabilises the obvious (and simple enough for two year olds to enjoy)
September 2, 2015
Shark in the park is a story about a boy named Timothy Pope who is testing out his new toy a telescope in the park. He looks up, he looks down, he looks right and then left with his telescope and then he thinks he sees a shark….is it a shark? Or is it something else?
This is an enjoyable story with allot of repetition and rhyme. This book can be read by independent young readers. It is a funny colourful story which even as grownups we can appreciate. This can be read to a class at the end of the day to make them relax as it is an amusing story. The book can also help young children (3-5years of age) learn directions such as right and left.
The illustration in the book are eye capturing, this can keep the audience especially the very young interested. The book is aimed at children age 2- 6 years.
This is an enjoyable story with allot of repetition and rhyme. This book can be read by independent young readers. It is a funny colourful story which even as grownups we can appreciate. This can be read to a class at the end of the day to make them relax as it is an amusing story. The book can also help young children (3-5years of age) learn directions such as right and left.
The illustration in the book are eye capturing, this can keep the audience especially the very young interested. The book is aimed at children age 2- 6 years.
July 31, 2010
I think I could have used this book when my older brother told me that sharks lived in the blue carpet in our house...
July 14, 2017
Too short! It needs at least 2 more sharks!
November 29, 2017
Nice rhythm and repetition make for a fun story time read!
May 12, 2020
Reception English work.
September 28, 2024
thrilling. a classic tale of things not appearing as they seem. the bookbug babies loved it!!
August 26, 2021
A very nice children’s read
March 28, 2021
This review is of the large version!
At 20.5 inches by 14.5 inches, this book would be difficult for the youngest of readers to manipulate well enough to read it by themselves. However, it would be an excellent choice for a large reading circle where one person is reading it to a large group of children. The text is large enough so that it could easily be read by children several feet away.
The story is humorous and is about a little boy in the park with his new toy, a telescope. Through it, he sees several optical illusions, all of which make him think that there is a shark in the park. In each case, it turns out to be something simple and a case of imagination going too far. It is constructed so that pages have a circular opening that mimics what the boy would see in the telescope, then when the page is turned, the reality is revealed. In the hands of a gifted presenter that would pause at the proper time and show what would be seen, this book will keep children riveted.
It is highly recommended for all situations where an adult will be reading to one or more children.
At 20.5 inches by 14.5 inches, this book would be difficult for the youngest of readers to manipulate well enough to read it by themselves. However, it would be an excellent choice for a large reading circle where one person is reading it to a large group of children. The text is large enough so that it could easily be read by children several feet away.
The story is humorous and is about a little boy in the park with his new toy, a telescope. Through it, he sees several optical illusions, all of which make him think that there is a shark in the park. In each case, it turns out to be something simple and a case of imagination going too far. It is constructed so that pages have a circular opening that mimics what the boy would see in the telescope, then when the page is turned, the reality is revealed. In the hands of a gifted presenter that would pause at the proper time and show what would be seen, this book will keep children riveted.
It is highly recommended for all situations where an adult will be reading to one or more children.
July 14, 2023
What a great book for children. The illustrations bring the story to life, there’s something going on, on each page, and a surprise too.
You can easily get the child to interact with the book, the text is short, repetitive and fun.
Fantastic book.
You can easily get the child to interact with the book, the text is short, repetitive and fun.
Fantastic book.
July 18, 2012
This is laugh out loud funny with bright and exciting pictures to get the readers imagination going, I would recommend it is not one to read before bed.
March 4, 2015
Working on ya Boston accent? Tired of saying "Pahk ya cah in Hahvid yahd"? Then this is the book for you! It's wicked funny!
June 15, 2020
An excellent story. Very interactive thanks to the repetition- children can join in with certain phrases after the first few times of saying it.
June 11, 2025
06/11/25 I super love this book for storytime! I somehow ended up with the board book edition of this book on accident, but it was big enough for a smaller storytime. Little ones can make a telescope with their hand and look up at the sky, down at the ground, etc. along with the main character and storytime attendees can say, "There's a shark in the park!" along with you. There's interaction, the text rhymes, there's an element of surprise with the die-cut holes, and (obv) sharks are fun! 10/10 stars.
September 18, 2018
This is a very good book to cause children's curiosities because it shows a circle that a picture like a shark in of a page and it makes children can answer about the picture. I think it makes them creative. In addition, it makes children don't judge to watch only one part. In last part, there is really the shark, so it is a exciting factor. This book is really good and funny to children.
January 17, 2019
picked this one up from the library based on the reviews we read, other than the cut out hole in the middle of the book we didn't really understand reviews being that high... Also felt like there should have been a "boy who cries wolf" moral in there. (the duck MAY have been sitting on a shark fin)
March 21, 2024
This makes for a great interactive story time! Before reading the book, ask the kids if they know what a telescope is and show them how to make a pretend telescope with their hands and look up, down, all around. Have them use their telescope during the story. Also, before the story show them the cover with the picture of the "shark fin" and ask them what they think it is.
April 13, 2024
This is the hilarious story of Timothy Pope who's looking through his telescope at the park and declares that he sees a shark. Little ones will love shouting with Timothy "There's a Shark in the Park!" The rhyming repetitive text, die-cut holes of a fin-like shape, and the punchline at the end makes this a sure fire hit to read out loud.
April 12, 2018
This picture book is a fun read for foundation stage or KS1 children as it is interactive and asks the reader to join in. This book also has exaggerated illustration to capture the attention of the young readers.
May 3, 2018
A mi hijo le encantó cuando vimos este enlace: https://youtu.be/kvwWrz7h8DE y hemos tenido que comprarlo. Es un cuento entretenido, con ritmo y que fomenta la creatividad. ¡Estoy deseando leer más de Nick Sharratt! Lo recomiendo.
February 6, 2019
I got this book from one of my best teachers, Ms. Mcpherson, and Ms. Naoko.
They were my KA teachers and when I graduated KA they gave me this book. I read them now and I think of all the times the teacher read this for me. I always loved it and I always will.
They were my KA teachers and when I graduated KA they gave me this book. I read them now and I think of all the times the teacher read this for me. I always loved it and I always will.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 15, 2021
Timothy Pope looks through his telescope at the park, and sees... a shark's fin! But the close perspective of the telescope is misleading - it's just a cat's ear, or crow's wing. Die-cut pages are a fun addition to this rhyming title with a repeated refrain.
May 29, 2022
This book has everything. Interesting rhyming prose, an engaging storyline and excellent illustrations. I particularly like the use of the cut-out shape to represent the telescope. There's a good dose of humour throughout this book. I can see why it has become a modern classic.
5 stars.
5 stars.
March 31, 2023
engaging and suspenseful stories, particularly with his shark-themed books such as "Park," "Dark," and "On a Windy Day." His ability to keep young readers guessing about the mysterious black shape that may or may not be a shark fin is truly impressive.
May 17, 2017
It was a'ight. Unusual, kinda cute, and I liked the cut-out pages. The story could have been stronger, I think.
July 13, 2017
This will be a fun read aloud!
September 20, 2017
Rhyming, rhythmic text. Explores the sense of wonder.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 135 reviews