Shawn Loves Sharks

by Curtis Manley, Tracy Subisak (Illustrations)

Winner of a 2018 Washington State Book Award
A nominee for the Washington State Children's Choice Award
A Bank Street College of Education Best Book of the Year
A Junior Library Guild Selection

“Shawn knows just about everything there is to know about sharks, but friendship proves a little trickier to grasp … Manley’s spare text is an excellent conductor for the dynamic energy built in Subisak’s clean, open spreads as Shawn’s passion for sharks spills onto the page. Fun, quirky obsessions nurtured and celebrated.” —Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

Shawn loves sharks.

He loves their dark, blank eyes.
He loves their big mouths full of sharp teeth.
And he loves pretending to be a shark and chasing Stacy around the playground.

Shawn loves sharks more than anything else in the world. But Predator Day at school is on Monday and Great White Shark isn't assigned to Shawn.

It's assigned to...Stacy.

Genres: Picture Books, Friendship, Animals, Childrens, School, Storytime, Realistic Fiction

32 pages, Hardcover

First published April 25, 2017

About the author

I write for young people of all ages and strive to create fun books with facts about the world around us and truths about the worlds within.

curtismanley.com

Reviews

[destiny ♡ howling libraries · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my favorite children's book of the year so far. I grabbed it from a neighboring branch to check out for an upcoming story-time theme and seriously giggled throughout the entire thing. The art is so freaking cute, there's a really good theme of friendship, and it highlights how important it is that we remember that, when someone else starts to like something we like, we don't need to become territorial - instead, we should be grateful to have a new friend to enjoy that thing with!

Most of all, though, the art... oh, man. Shawn keeps dressing up as a shark to begin with, and in each page where he's in his costume, his cat is in a fish costume. Later in the book, he switches to a leopard seal costume, so his cat... switches to a penguin costume. 😂 I'm still snickering.

[Melanie Dulaney · Rating 5 out of 5]

(Review on finished book won through Goodreads giveways-Thanks, Curtis Manley!) Children's librarians are always on the look out for picture books that have that wonderful combination of great word choices/story, engaging illustrations, and either a lesson or use as a mentor text. Manley's " Shawn Loves Sharks" has all of those things! What young child doesn't like cool animals and pretending to be one? The text will be easy for PK-2nd grade to relate to and they will learn facts about predators/seals/sharks as the story moves along. And Tracy Subisak does a fabulous job of drawing bright, bold illustrations with a few bits of irony that adults will get and kids will just think are cute. The lesson of getting along with others is also present, but not in a heavy-handed or preachy tone. This one is a winner.

[Alex Baugh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shawn loves sharks and knows everything there is to know about them, but when his teacher assigns her class to learn about different predators in nature, Shawn gets seals, a sharks enemy, and Stacy, who is not his friend, gets sharks. Now, Shawn has a lot to learn about friends, friendship, and getting alone.

[Earl · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got to help out with a school visit featuring both the author and illustrator of this picture book. I normally wouldn't have picked it up otherwise but I'm so glad I did. It's a great story not only for shark lovers but all kinds of animals. But the most surprising thing was that it's a perfect for classroom readings because it's also about friendship and being open to new experiences.

[Marco · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful ode to books, really, and the power they have to bring people together.

Shawn wants to research sharks, his favorite subject, but fellow classmate Stacy gets them instead while Shawn gets the leopard seal.

As Stacy researches sharks, Shawn thinks she won't learn as much as he has while he becomes a fan of the seals after all.

After bringing Stacy to near tears, Shawn realizes that maybe sharks and seals can be friends just this once and shares his shark books with her.

Truly great story about overcoming differences.

[Nicola · Rating 4 out of 5]

Miss 3 and I like to explore different books and authors at the library, sometimes around particular topics or themes. We try to get different ones out every week or so; it's fun for both of us to have the variety and to look at a mix of new & favourite authors.

This was a random picture book that I chose. The book may not have been promoted as having an autistic main character but I think lots of ECE teachers and parents of kids on spectrum would recognise it in Shawn! I like that he finds empathy for Stacy and that they become friends.

[Cindy Dobrez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shawn loves sharks but is assigned to research sea lions instead. Uh-oh. Nice treatment of handling of disappointment in this humorous tale. Be sure to follow up with Neighborhood Sharks: Hunting with the Great Whites of California's Farallon Islands for a nonfiction title about these two animals.

[Alison T. Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a cute story about a boy who is obsessed with sharks. He's watched all the movies, read all the books, and knows all the facts. Therefore, when the teacher wants her class to research "predators," Shawn desperately wants the shark. But things don't always go how we want them to and Shawn must learn about what he deems to be a lesser predator. And learning new facts often brings surprises that can change your understanding. My favorite part of this book is the illustrations. Watch the cat from page to page it's hilarious.

[OnceUponALibrarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cute story of a reluctant friendship - I like how they switched roles on the playground and how Stacy ended up loving sharks and chasing him around.
Also love the illustrations- capture well the activity and action and the big feels and emotions of Shawn & Stacy.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

As is the case for many youngsters, Shawn is obsessed with sharks and everything about them. He even envisions himself as a shark and chases his classmates during recess while pretending to be a shark. But when his teacher, Ms. Mitchell, introduces a unit on predators and Shawn doesn't get to choose the shark, he is disappointed. His classmate, Stacy, chooses the slip with the Great White Shark listed while Shawn gets the Leopard Seal. As Stacy reads about sharks, she starts to appreciate them more and more while Shawn develops an appreciation for seals. When Stacy tries to catch him on the playground but cannot because he is such a fast runner, he hurts her feelings. Later, after thinking about it, he tries to make up for it. Featuring an interesting slice of life from a classroom, this picture book might prompt some young readers to think carefully about what they say and do toward others and to consider their feelings while perhaps recognizing that each species and each human has something special and interesting about it. In the end, all I can say is that I felt sorry for Shawn's cat who is constantly being chased by that would-be shark. I liked the softly-colored illustrations that endeavor and succeed at capturing the essence of several different animals. This might be a useful read aloud when introducing a lesson or activity in which not every student is going to get his/her first choice or when introducing a lesson on predators as the students' teacher does here.

[Brandy Shark · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn't go around chasing kids are recess pretending to be a shark, but I was very much like Shawn in elementary school; I consumed every book I could find on sharks, SharkWeek was the best week on TV, and the older I got, the less afraid I was of Jaws.

Very sweet and very cute with a great ending.

[Alison]

I used to work with a young boy who would LOVE this book. I hope he finds it, and/or some librarian hooks him up with it.

[Heidi-Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not amazing, but a decent story. The girl learned a bit of confidence. The boy learned about something besides his obsession and learned to be kind. Not really what I share in storytime, but not bad.

3/10/18 Read this at bedtime to SD. She liked it.

[Brittany · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shawn LOVES sharks. When it comes to predators, sharks are his favorite. Then, everyone draws a predator in class to do a report. He doesn't draw sharks - no, Shawn draws seals instead! Sharks EAT seals! Regardless of his poor pull, Shawn starts to do his research and realizes he loves sharks. In turn, he decides to befriend the girl who pulled the Great White for her project. Recommended Purchase. Gr K-2.

[Katie Dicesare · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this story of friendship...the characters Shawn and Stacy seem so real to me. I can name kids in my class who are passionate thinking and pretenders. My favorite line....On Saturday Shawn remembered something about people. I like the reflective change one kiddo can carryout in a story.

[Juliana Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shawn loved sharks more than anything. He also loved chasing the kids around the playground pretending to be a shark. One day the teacher told them they would each do a report on a predator. The only problem was that Shawn didn't get to be the shark, he got the leopard seal instead.
Sharks eat leopard seals! Now Shawn learns what it means to share and be friends even if he is a seal.

[Kenson and kirra · Rating 5 out of 5]

i like this book because i like sharks.

[Jesse · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shawn loves sharks, but with the assignment of a different animal for a school assignment he learns to love another animal. He also treats his fellow classmate, Stacy, horribly and, though the apology is skipped, they wind up friends. I really wanted that apology shown.

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's Shark Week! Read this one and enjoy!

[Beckyt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shawn loves sharks and I LOVE this book! Children will relate to the characters in this story and adults will not mind being asked to read it aloud again and again and again....!

[BiblioBeruthiel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Boy howdy, this book is fantastic. I will probably not use it for storytime, as I'm a little worried by group might find the food chain stuff a little distressing, but would be great for a slightly older group. Love this book. As a child who was absolutely obsessed with Seals (and somewhat sharks) this hit me right in my heart.

[Cheryl Keely · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shawn loves sharks. More than anything. His love affair with sharks sometimes drove other kids away. So when the kids get a lesson in school to learn about predators, Shawn wants to pick the shark. Only another girl -- one who doesn't like being chased by Shawn the shark -- picks a shark. She won't switch with Shawn. No matter how hard Shawn tries. The more the girl learns about sharks, the more she likes them. She even starts chasing Shawn at lunch. Shawn is stuck learning about seals. which he thinks could never be friends with a shark. Or could they?

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shawn loves sharks and is devastated when he doesn't get to research them for a school project. During the project though he discovers his love for seals (the animal he was assigned to research) and he ends up helping the girl who was assigned sharks by sharing his numerous resources with her.

In the end, friendship blossoms as does enthusiasm for learning.

PreK-2. Great read aloud, especially for early elementary.

[Vicki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shark loving Shawn is challenged to do a school report on: leopard seals! When classmate Stacy gets to do her report on sharks, the challenge is on.

Fun illustrations, pay attention to the pet cat in a fish costume.

[Teresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sharing, empathy through predators.

[Laine · Rating 3 out of 5]

the beginning of a beautiful frienship!

[Daphne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I started reading this book just because my nephew Sean loves sharks, and I'm so glad I did so. I thought this book would just be about loving sharks or shark facts or something like that, which to be fair, would be awesome too, but this book is about more than that - it's about discovering how to love new things and how to be friends with new people. Well done. Funny illustrations too, including the cat's fish suit and the way Shawn imagines the shark eating the seal - "Dun Dun Dun!"

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyed the super-cute cat.

[Angela De Groot · Rating 3 out of 5]

Shawn loved everything about sharks until Predator Day at school and he gets assigned a predator that's also a Great White's prey. A surprising friendship story

[Susan Foster · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good story with a believable premise--I can totally see a kid obsessed with sharks and the disappointment he would feel at not getting that for his topic. Love how he makes a good kind decision in the end!