Nicola Davies and James Croft have created a lively, raucous look at what is perhaps one of the most misunderstood creatures of the sea. Despite their bad reputations, Davies explains, most sharks are far from what one might expect. While it’s true they are ferociously predatory (one of the common traits of all types of shark is their constant search for food), they rarely are looking for people to consume (about six people per year die of shark attacks). The breezy text, set in an unfussy font that echoes the lighthearted tone, packs in a great deal of information about sharks. Sidebars and captions provide intriguing tidbits about many different types of shark, from the tiny dwarf lantern (just bigger than a chocolate bar, with a belly that lights up) to the huge basking shark (over 29 feet long). Croft’s bold and colorful acrylic and pastel images are funny as well as informative, perfectly matched to the tone of the narrative. (Ages 5–9)