Clark the Shark: Afraid of the Dark

Clark the Shark

by Bruce Hale, Guy Francis (Illustrator)

Children’s Choice Book Award Finalist Clark the Shark is ready for his first big sleepover! He’s nervous about sleeping outside without his glow-fish night-light, but he doesn’t want anyone to know he’s just a teeny-tiny bit afraid of the dark. So Clark makes up a rhyme to help him stay “Take heart, be smart, sharks aren’t afraid of the dark.” But when the sun sets and his friends begin telling spooky stories, Clark’s voice sounds quiet and small and not brave at all. In this empowering tale about conquering nighttime fears, Clark the Shark learns how friendship can help light the way through the dark. Featuring bright, colorful artwork from Guy Francis and hilarious read-aloud text from Bruce Hale, this Clark the Shark picture book is the perfect story for kids braving nighttime jitters!

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Fiction, Animals, Juvenile, Storytime

32 pages, Hardcover

First published September 8, 2015

About the author

A serious book addict, Bruce wanted to be a children's book author since he was in 4th grade (right after he got over wanting to be a pirate, Tarzan, and Daniel Boone). Today he's the author-illustrator of over 70 seriously funny books for kids, so some dreams do come true.

The Malted Falcon, one of his Chet Gecko Mysteries series, was an Edgar Award finalist, and Murder, My Tweet won a Little D Award for Juvenile Humor Writing. Bruce has written everything from picture books and easy readers, to graphic novels and novels.

Bruce's recent Monstertown Mysteries series blends horror and humor, based on his childhood love of monster movies. His other series include Class Pets, about the secret lives of classroom pets, and the forthcoming Outerspace Mystery Pizza Club books, due in 2024.

A Fulbright Scholar (in Storytelling), Bruce is also a popular speaker, both in the U.S. and internationally. He lives in Santa Barbara with his wife and knuckleheaded dog Riley. When he's not writing or reading, you may find him hiking, kickboxing, or singing with a latin-jazz band called Mezcal Martini.

Reviews

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

As the parent of two little boys who are afraid of the dark, this book was much needed in my household. My kids loved the rhyme that Clark recited over and over again in the book. My kids enjoyed making predictions throughout this book. Great read!

[Olivia Lullie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Summary:
The character Clark is having his first sleepover, and him and all his friends are going to sleep outside in the dark. Clark is afraid of the dark, but to help him face his fear he creates a rhyme for himself- "Take heart, be smart, sharks aren't afraid of the dark". Clark and his friends realize that it's okay to have fears, and they get through their fears through creating a rhyme together.

Evaluation:
This book could be for any age group. The book contains an important theme of friendship and facing your fears. The book contains colorful illustrations along with a sweet story that contains onomatopoeia and rhyming.

Teaching Idea:
In this book, Clark creates a rhyme to help him face his fears. A lesson idea to use with this book is to have the students create their own rhymes that will help them when they are scared or worried about something. This book could be read aloud and the students could come up with something they are scared of or that they worry about. They could create a rhyme, like Clark and his friends, to help them get through it.

[A'Lora Hamilton · Rating 4 out of 5]

There's a song :)

[Dani ❤️ Perspective of a Writer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Check out more picture book reviews @ Perspective of a Writer...

Clark the Shark is nervous to be sleeping outside for his first sleepover with his friends. His rhyme helps him stay cool: “Take heart, be smart, sharks aren’t afraid of the dark.” But while telling scary stories his friends make a revelation of their own. Does sharing your fears help?

Clark the Shark is such a catchy name! My nephew started saying it just looking at the cover. The illustrations were perfect for the story and well framed. We easily found a spread for my nephew to draw (the one where they are laying out in their sleeping bags). I didn't like the type face used inside the book - it was hard to read and didn't fit the style pf the art. In fact it ruined the art at times...

I applaud a story about facing the dark, something my nephew struggles with too. This book did not help with his struggles at all. They seemed to bring their fear on themselves by telling ghost stories and then were surprised when they were frightened. Also the rhyme is a little patronizing as are things to be scared of in the dark. Be smart? When is using some common sense stupid? The execution just wasn't there.

BOTTOM LINE: Shaming a child into not fearing the dark...

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You can find this review and many others on my book blog @ Perspective of a Writer. See my picture book reviews in a special feature called Boo's Picture Gallery...

[Erik This Kid Reviews Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like the Clark the Shark series. Mr. Hale does a good job of describing the average young elementary school student’s life in the books. Clark is a very realistic character. I really like the humor in the illustrations (the game “Whirlpool” instead of “Twister”). In this book Clark has o deal with his fear of the dark. While this isn’t a Halloween book, it does deal with a subject little kids have to face on Halloween and I think it would be helpful to get kids to talk about their fears. *NOTE* I got this book in exchange for an honest review

[Sunah Chung · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clark the Shark makes a plan to have his first sleepover outside with friends. However, he is afraid to sleep in the dark. When he honestly accepts his fear and confesses the fact that he is afraid of the dark, his friends agree with him and support each other.

This is a lovely story to children who are afraid of darkness. Recently, a shark is often described as a fierce and scary ocean creature who does not have fear. The book shows that even a shark could be afraid of the dark, and it would be a relief for young readers who have the same issue. I think the story and illustrations don't stand out artistically, though.

[Anthony · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clark the Shark is having a sleepover, and it's the first time him and his friends will sleep outside in the dark. The sleepover activities go well, and everyone is having fun, especially Clark. When it's time to sleep outside in the dark, it takes the bravery of everyone to do it. Clark shares a ditty he made up about being brave in the dark, and all join in.

[Kaelin Miller · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book to my aunt's kindergarten class and they seemed to love this book. They were eager to know what happens next. So, I recommend this book for young readers. kindergarteners especially. It was a fun book to read to the kids and they enjoyed this book!

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Though afraid of the dark, Clark is doing fine at his first sleepover. Until Benny Blowfish suggests that they tell ghost stories. But it turns out that all his friends are in the same boat. So, they make up a rhyme to help them be brave together.

[Patricia Pieske · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish you could give a 100 star rating!!!!!😆😆😆😆😆:D

I loved it cuz it teaches a lesson: Don't be afraid of the dark. I liked Clark's little rhyme and how his friends put it into a song. I think I would recommend it to Walmart. This is awesome. You turned my scary life around.

[Kain · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another clark the shark book which we loved

[The Brothers · Rating 3 out of 5]

This watery tale of a sleepover and how even fearsome creatures (like a shark) manage their fear of the dark.

Illustrations are pretty fun.

[K Morlando · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent addition to our ocean theme.

[Rachel Laskey · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book has a cute little rhyme and I think most kids can relate to being afraid of the dark.

[Kirsten Murphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Clark and this book definitely holds a special place in my heart with that dedication! Thanks, Bruce!

[Theresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clark learns not to be afraid on his first sleepovers.

[Blair · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute book about being scared of the dark and how to overcome the fear.

[Lara · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one is cute, but nothing spectacular. Clark is still a very relatable character for bouncy younger children. Here he runs the emotional gamut from excitement about his sleepover to fear of the dark. The pictures are still fun, with silly little jokes hidden in.

For a storytime I'd use it for a theme on sharks, friends, fears/being brave, or the dark.

[Eliza Buell · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Clark the Shark Afraid of the Dark," by Bruce Hale is a precious story about a shark who is nervous to have is first slumber party because he does not want his friends to know that he is afraid of the dark. He makes up a rhyme that says "Take heart. Be smart. Sharks aren't afraid of the dark." And he whispers this to himself any time he is feeling scared. His friends come over for the slumber party and it is finally time to go to sleep. Clark and his friends decide that it would be a fun idea to tell scary stories before bed. It turns out to not be such a good idea because now they are all frightened and scared of the monsters from their stories. Clark whispers his rhyme to himself, and one of his friends over hears him and asks what he just said. Clark then timidly admits to his friends that he is afraid of the dark, hoping that they won't laugh at him. But to Clark's surprise, all of his friends admit that they are also afraid of the dark too! They decide that the best way to stick together and overcome their fear is to all make up a rhyme to help them battle the darkness together, and soon they were all fast asleep.
The major themes in this story are overcoming your fears and friendship. Clark was very afraid of the dark but thought of ways that would help him get through the night without his night light, and he did it! But he couldn't have done it without the help of his friends. He was nervous that they would make fun of him for being scared of the dark, but instead they all came together and helped each other overcome their fears, which is what true friendship is all about.
I gave this book a four star rating.
I can relate to this book because I too was scared of the dark when I was young. I always had my night light and was scared to sleep without it. Sometime during the night I would wake up and be scared and even run and jump into bed with my mom and dad. But just like Clark, I eventually overcame my fear.
I would recommend this book to young readers because it shows that everyone has fears, but with the help of loved ones, they are able to be conquered. Many children find that having fears is a sign of weakness and is frowned upon, when truly all children have them. This story teaches children not to make fun of friends who have different views on things, but instead to support them and help them through any challenges that they face.

[Sails and Scales · Rating 3 out of 5]

This review originally published at The Children's Book and Media Review

Clark the Shark is trying to get ready for his first sleepover, but he’s worried because it will be his first time sleeping outside without his glow-fish night-light. He and his friends play games until it’s time to go outside. Clark’s friends tell scary stories and Clark’s friends all start to feel a little scared. Clark realizes that all of them are a little bit afraid of the dark. Soon they all find a way to help themselves not be afraid of the dark anymore.

While the idea of telling scary stories and being too afraid to sleep has certainly been done before, the adaption to sea creatures and the return of Clark the Shark puts the idea into a new setting. As Clark has done before, he uses a rhyme to help him not be afraid of the dark that child readers of this book may be able to adopt to help them also get over their fears. While not entirely original, readers who are afraid of the dark might find comfort that a shark could have the same kinds of worries.

[Jillian · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think I must not be a Clark the Shark person, because I tend to find the stories lackluster, if not annoying.
This one wasn't necessarily annoying, just random. The "let's tell spooky stories....now we're afraid to go to sleep" has been done and done and done. The adaptation to sea creatures was cute, though. Mostly I was just baffled at why Mama Shark came and told them to quiet down after two screams, but when they get to creepy scream number three, and then *pull out musical instruments to write a song,* she's nowhere to be found.

[Hannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I used this book in preschool story time, and the kids loved it. They loved guessing what would happen next, and sharing their own stories about sleepovers and how to overcome fears.

What I did not like about this book, however, was the weird slant rhyme that played such a large roll in the book. How hard would it have been to come up with an actual, catchy rhyme? Furthermore, the weird song at the end bothered me. It has no real tune attached to it, so I could only really read it instead of sing it like the book instructed.

[Erika Prater · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book I would totally recommend to parents struggling with children who are afraid of the dark. I like that Clark comes up with some self coping strategies by creating a rhyme to help him be brave. This book can show children that there will always be other children that are feeling just like they are whether its being afraid of the dark, being scared of heights or just being sad. I like that children can relate to Clark and his friends and I would love to read the other books in the series.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Clark is nervous about his first sleepover with friends because he is afraid of the dark. Using a rhyme to comfort himself, he prepares for the big party and has fun. As they start to tell each other spooky stories, though, all of them become a bit frightened and discover none of them are immune to fear. Banding together, they create a new chant to ward off the dark and all ends well. Brilliant artwork with creative characters help this rather staid story move along. Recommended.

[Megan Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a sweet story and perfect for opening up a discussion about fears and first overnights for kids 4 and up. I would love to read this in a storytime or do a "practice" sleepover program (minus the actual sleeping over part) at the library. The text and illustrations work well together and Bruce Hale is just a fun, fun guy.

[Meghan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book because it was listed as a finalist on the 2016 Children's Choice Book Awards under the kindergarten to second grade category. A picture book about a shark named Clark who is overly-zealous about most things. One of the better presented Clark the shark books, this one addresses fear of the dark.

[Vicki · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice read to cover the topic of being afraid of the dark topic for children. The illustrations are colorful and large. I was hoping the rhyme at the end of the story was shorter, something children could memorize to use for themselves.

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Clark the Shark is throwing his first slumber party. There's just one problem--he's afraid of the dark! Clark makes a rhyme to help him through the night. When he realizes all of his friends are scared, too, they make up a song to help them feel better.

Good for preschool storytimes.

[Allison · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun book and delightfully illustrated. I will look forward to reading it to young folks in my life - especially those who are fans of creatures that are a bit more scary than fluffy bunnies or teddy bears.

[Mandy Laferriere · Rating 5 out of 5]

We love this series, but this is our favorite of the three. Clark's little rhyme that helps him be brave in the dark has become a mantra in our house. Adorable characters with distinct personalities and detailed, bright illustrations make this a winner!