Big Shark, Little Shark

by Anna Membrino, Tim Budgen (Illustrator)

Just when you thought it was safe to read an early reader . . . SHARK!

This fun Step 1 book about two sharks is a study in opposites. Big Shark has big teeth; Little Shark has little teeth. Big Shark swims fast; Little Shark swims slow. But they are both hungry! Will they each succeed in finding a tasty snack? Little Shark is hoping that he won’t become fast food for Big Shark!
 
Step 1 Readers feature big type and easy words for children who know the alphabet and are eager to begin reading. Rhyme and rhythmic text paired with picture clues help children decode the story.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Animals, Fiction, Nature

32 pages, Paperback

Published May 9, 2017

Reviews

[Joy · Rating 3 out of 5]

My youngest got this in the Barnes and Noble summer reading program. It is a Step 1 book and my seven year old was able to read it without too much trouble. The plot is pretty simple (as most decodable text books are) but the pictures are cute and give some context clues for the text.

[Coralie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this one with my (seven year old) little brother the other day. Well, he read it to me. It was a little below his level, so it was a pretty easy read, but he likes sharks so we went for it. It was cute, a short read. I liked the animations and the story was simple, but it entertained him.

[Jennifer Dell · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is a highly underrated book. My daughter has been struggling to read on her own and her teacher suggested finding books that have a maximum of 2 new words per page to give her some confidence while reading. This book has that. it has some of their 'word wall words' (simple words like has, and, i, is, it etc...) and then some new words like big, little, fish, shark, hungry.

Its a great choice for an early reader.

[Cal]

TITLE: Big Shark, Little Shark
AUTHOR: Anna Membrino
ILLUSTRATOR: Tim Budgen
Review Title Let's Eat

SETTING: The Ocean
STORY: Big Shark and Little Shark are out looking for food. We first learn about big and little, then slow and fast. They find fish, but the fish is too fast for Big Shark and too dangerous for Little Shark. Big Shark and Little Shark see each other. Big Shark is very hungry… Little Shark has a net and they catch lots of fish with it.

ILLUSTRATION STYLE: Chalk
COMPARISON: Like the Berenstain's Big Bear, Little Bear, with almost the same title

MAIN CHARACTER: Big and Little Shark
Needs, could use, or wants: They need food

MAIN CONFLICT: Big and Little Shark can't find food
CONCLUSION: They get fish with a net at the end

FAVORITE PART: Little Shark swims away from the big fish instead of catching it
FAVORITE CHARACTER: Little Shark

EASY TO READ SCALE 5/5

WHY RECOMMEND Teaches Opposites
TARGET AUDIENCE Kindergarten
RATING 9/10

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this title for young readers who are just embarking on their reading journey, two sharks show off their chops--or choppers. One shark is quite big and the other one is small, and the two of them are hungry for a bite to eat. However, neither one has much success in catching a fish until they decide to work together and they have more than enough food for both of them. I'm not sure how scientifically accurate the book is since I don't know that sharks ever collaborate in gathering their meals, but it could happen. Youngsters will enjoy the humor and the growing threat to Little Shark since Big Shark clearly outweighs him. But size isn't everything, of course. This is a good title in the Step into Reading series that is intended to support emergent readers. This one does just that in a fun way.

[Cara · Rating 3 out of 5]

The text is appropriately repetitive and uses comparison words such as “fast” and “slow,” which help to solidify an understanding of opposites. The digital illustrations are cartoonish and fun, featuring happy, non-threatening sharks, but the colors lack vibrancy, which might be a draw for a young reader. That being said, sharks are a perennial favorite in the animal kingdom. Children in kindergarten through second grade can practice their reading skills while enjoying this fun, fishy tale.

[Christine James · Rating 3 out of 5]

cute...but

Its a good story because of comparisons, big, little, fast slow. Except the story is based on fish eating each other. Then big shark looks at little shark like little shark is a snack. I don't care for that as a story line

[Cara · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a decent book until the end. I would have preferred they worked together to catch a fish and then split it instead of the little shark suddenly producing a net when the big shark was going to eat him.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fun book to read with prek to first grade. Easy words following a big /little pattern. Nice problem and solution for kids to easily retell. Good moral about working together to solve the problem.

[Danette · Rating 2 out of 5]

A book of opposites with a strange ending.

7/16/2017 Read with Julia.

[Beckie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great comparison book in an easy reader.

[Joseph Crupper · Rating 2 out of 5]

Implied cannibalism?

[Cam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute book.... great for beginner readers. You will find a lot of kindergarten words in the book.

[Joanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my 2 year old nephew's favorite book. It's adorable.

[Genetta · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun early reader that will leave kids wanting to read it again and again.

[Wade · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love these Step 1 books. They are great for your “little shark” in learning to read. My little shark did a great job reading a lot of the words. And he loved the sharks.

[J.]

Self read 9/17/19

[Tess Molinder · Rating 1 out of 5]

Lame

Over-rated - story lacks interest for kids and has little point to it - wish I’d saved my money because it was expensive for a book with so few words

[Jen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was really rubbed the wrong way by the ending.

[Kelly Chester · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great book

[Sandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good book for building confidence in a beginner reader.

[Peacegal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Two cartoony sharks who are having difficulty catching fish to eat team up to solve their problem.

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great beginning reader.

[Valerie A · Rating 4 out of 5]

funny

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

My 6 year old daughter was able to read this book almost all by herself! And cute art.

[Lillianna Bliss]

read with twins :)

[Colette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect beginning reader book that Maggie loved and could use a bit of predictive analysis on.

[Chad Olson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Little shark finds a snack for big shark, or else...

[Kari Schooley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute book about opposites. Funny and fun to read with a child because they can predict the words that come next even if they cannot read the words yet.

[Joey Gaudino · Rating 2 out of 5]

ISBN 978-1-64697-450-4