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The Ultimate Book of Sharks
Dive into the wild world of sharks! Get up close to learn the truth behind these fantastic, ferocious fish with famed National Geographic photographer and explorer Brian Skerry.
Join this amazing underwater adventure to track the sharks of the world, from the teeniest dogfish to the everfeared great white. This ultimate book features every species of shark on the planet, with awesome photos, fascinating facts, the latest science, and firsthand stories of real-life encounters with these incredible creatures. Learn how sharks live, how they eat, the challenges they face, and whether or not you are actually on the menu.
Join this amazing underwater adventure to track the sharks of the world, from the teeniest dogfish to the everfeared great white. This ultimate book features every species of shark on the planet, with awesome photos, fascinating facts, the latest science, and firsthand stories of real-life encounters with these incredible creatures. Learn how sharks live, how they eat, the challenges they face, and whether or not you are actually on the menu.
192 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2018
4 people are currently reading
59 people want to read
About the author
Brian Skerry
23 books53 followersBrian Skerry is a photojournalist and visual storyteller specializing in marine wildlife and underwater environments. Since 1998 he has been a contributing photographer for National Geographic Magazine covering stories on every continent and in nearly every ocean habitat. In 2014 he was named as a National Geographic Society PhotographyFellow and then named a National Geographic Society Storytelling Fellow in 2017. In 2017 he was also awarded the title of Rolex National Geographic Explorer of the Year.
For National Geographic Magazine, Brian has produced a wide range of stories, from the harp seal’s struggle to survive in frozen waters to the alarming decrease in the world’s fisheries to dolphin intelligence, all cover stories. A fourth cover story, in February 2017 focused on protecting ocean ecosystems in US waters and during this coverage Brian produced the first images of a sitting US President underwater. He is currently at work on his 29th story for NGM.
Brian’s work has also been featured in publications such as The NY Times, TheWashington Post, Paris Match, Esquire, and Audubon. He is the author of 12 books including the acclaimed monographs Ocean Soul and SHARK. His latest book, Secrets of the Whales will be released in April 2021 by National Geographic as part of a multiplatform project he created that includes a cover story in National Geographic magazineand a 4-part documentary filmseries on Disney +.
Brian is an 11-time award winner in the prestigious Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition and has also been recognized with awards from Pictures of the Year International, Nature’s Best and Communication Arts. He the only photographer to win the coveted Peter Benchley Award for Excellence in Media. In 2010 National Geographic magazine named one of Brian’s images among their 50 Greatest Photographs of All Time and in 2016 he was awarded the National Geographic Photographer’s PhotographerAward, an honor bestowed by his colleagues, other National Geographic photographers. The Academy of Underwater Arts and Sciences awarded Brian the 2019 NOGI Award for Arts, an award frequently referred to as the ‘Underwater Oscar’ and in 2020 he received the President’s Award from the Conservation Law Foundation.
Brian frequently lectures on ocean exploration, storytelling and conservation having presented at venues such as The United Nations General Assembly, The World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, TED Talks, The National Press Club in Washington, DC, The Royal Geographical Society in London and the Sydney Opera House in Australia.
He has had numerous solo photographer exhibits including Portraits of Planet Ocean, a two-year exhibit at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History in Washington DC and Ocean Soul at Visa pour l’image in Perpignan, France. Other exhibits of his work have been held in cities worldwide including Geneva, Barcelona, Lisbon, and Shanghai. Brian is the Explorer-In-Residence and a Trustee at the New England Aquarium, a founding member of the International League of Conservation Photographers and a Fellow National of The Explorers Club. He also serves as a Nikon Ambassador.
For National Geographic Magazine, Brian has produced a wide range of stories, from the harp seal’s struggle to survive in frozen waters to the alarming decrease in the world’s fisheries to dolphin intelligence, all cover stories. A fourth cover story, in February 2017 focused on protecting ocean ecosystems in US waters and during this coverage Brian produced the first images of a sitting US President underwater. He is currently at work on his 29th story for NGM.
Brian’s work has also been featured in publications such as The NY Times, TheWashington Post, Paris Match, Esquire, and Audubon. He is the author of 12 books including the acclaimed monographs Ocean Soul and SHARK. His latest book, Secrets of the Whales will be released in April 2021 by National Geographic as part of a multiplatform project he created that includes a cover story in National Geographic magazineand a 4-part documentary filmseries on Disney +.
Brian is an 11-time award winner in the prestigious Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition and has also been recognized with awards from Pictures of the Year International, Nature’s Best and Communication Arts. He the only photographer to win the coveted Peter Benchley Award for Excellence in Media. In 2010 National Geographic magazine named one of Brian’s images among their 50 Greatest Photographs of All Time and in 2016 he was awarded the National Geographic Photographer’s PhotographerAward, an honor bestowed by his colleagues, other National Geographic photographers. The Academy of Underwater Arts and Sciences awarded Brian the 2019 NOGI Award for Arts, an award frequently referred to as the ‘Underwater Oscar’ and in 2020 he received the President’s Award from the Conservation Law Foundation.
Brian frequently lectures on ocean exploration, storytelling and conservation having presented at venues such as The United Nations General Assembly, The World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, TED Talks, The National Press Club in Washington, DC, The Royal Geographical Society in London and the Sydney Opera House in Australia.
He has had numerous solo photographer exhibits including Portraits of Planet Ocean, a two-year exhibit at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History in Washington DC and Ocean Soul at Visa pour l’image in Perpignan, France. Other exhibits of his work have been held in cities worldwide including Geneva, Barcelona, Lisbon, and Shanghai. Brian is the Explorer-In-Residence and a Trustee at the New England Aquarium, a founding member of the International League of Conservation Photographers and a Fellow National of The Explorers Club. He also serves as a Nikon Ambassador.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
July 5, 2018
It's summer and folks are enjoying the fun and joy of swimming in the oceans that line the coasts of the United States. A joyful time! Refreshing! Worth remembering! But also worth remembering is the fact the the oceans of the world are inhabited by a vast array of creatures that make the waters their home. Man is not a water creature but man (that includes boys, girls, men and women of all ages) certainly enjoys making it their playground and a source of their food supply.
Within the depths and often in the shallows are the mighty sharks! They are most often ferocious and should always be respected and avoided as we people frolic amidst the waves of beautiful ocean waters.
In The Ultimate Book of Sharks the author and National Geographic explore the enormous variety of shark creatures, where they abide around the world, the danger to man, shark's preferred foods (they are creatures of prey), and the very fact that they do need protecting. I personally ate shark (a small shark caught off the coast of North Carolina) and the meat is delicious. I am, sadly, allergic to it and certainly won't partake again. However, environmentalists encourage us not to fish for sharks but to protect them. This book addresses that subject as well as showing the pletora of types of sharks.
I found the book and the photography fascinating. In keeping with National Geographic's reputation for excellent subject matter and photography, this book is excellent; and it is definitely one I can highly recommend for personal libraries if the subject matter interests you, and most definitely for hool and public libraries.
DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy to facilitate this review. Opinions are my own and freely given.
Within the depths and often in the shallows are the mighty sharks! They are most often ferocious and should always be respected and avoided as we people frolic amidst the waves of beautiful ocean waters.
In The Ultimate Book of Sharks the author and National Geographic explore the enormous variety of shark creatures, where they abide around the world, the danger to man, shark's preferred foods (they are creatures of prey), and the very fact that they do need protecting. I personally ate shark (a small shark caught off the coast of North Carolina) and the meat is delicious. I am, sadly, allergic to it and certainly won't partake again. However, environmentalists encourage us not to fish for sharks but to protect them. This book addresses that subject as well as showing the pletora of types of sharks.
I found the book and the photography fascinating. In keeping with National Geographic's reputation for excellent subject matter and photography, this book is excellent; and it is definitely one I can highly recommend for personal libraries if the subject matter interests you, and most definitely for hool and public libraries.
DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy to facilitate this review. Opinions are my own and freely given.
July 13, 2018
If you don’t know what a shark is, you will know plenty when you’re done reading this guide. There are sharks with horns, sharks that hang around the bottom, sharks with fuzzy teeth, and even sharks that are picky eaters. Readers can even learn how the cookiecutter shark got its name.
Did you know that a shark can detect a heartbeat from miles away? Most sharks don’t like humans, but when an attack happens it’s usually due to a mistaken identity. With all the water around sharks they can’t drink it. Salt water is toxic to them just like us. A special gland helps them filter out the salt so they can have a drink. Did you know that female sharks are larger than males? The Basking shark is very large and pretty scary looking, but have no fear, they are harmless to humans.
This National Geographic Kids guide to sharks is shared through the eyes of photojournalist Brian Skerry who specializes in marine life. The photos of these amazing creatures are vividly spectacular. Shark enthusiasts can learn about shark myths, anatomy, the various types, fossils and even how to keep them safe. Each page is filled with fun facts, as well as, Skerry up close and personal encounters.
Did you know that a shark can detect a heartbeat from miles away? Most sharks don’t like humans, but when an attack happens it’s usually due to a mistaken identity. With all the water around sharks they can’t drink it. Salt water is toxic to them just like us. A special gland helps them filter out the salt so they can have a drink. Did you know that female sharks are larger than males? The Basking shark is very large and pretty scary looking, but have no fear, they are harmless to humans.
This National Geographic Kids guide to sharks is shared through the eyes of photojournalist Brian Skerry who specializes in marine life. The photos of these amazing creatures are vividly spectacular. Shark enthusiasts can learn about shark myths, anatomy, the various types, fossils and even how to keep them safe. Each page is filled with fun facts, as well as, Skerry up close and personal encounters.
January 3, 2019
I am doing a science fair project about how fast different sharks swim and this book helped a lot with understanding sharks. The book has a lot of facts about different types of sharks (even names the fastest sharks), where they live, the parts of a shark, shark trivia, environments, and a lot more. I like that there is an index in the back so you can look up things quickly. The pictures are awesome and I thought it was easy to read and understand. I like how the words are broken up into little sections with pictures for each section. I learned about types of sharks I never heard of before - like cat sharks and tasseled wobbegongs (that is a real name) and also other facts like there are sharks that actually live up near the Arctic Circle (I always thought they lived in warm waters). This book would be great for schools to have. I think a lot of kids will like it. I thought this was a great book and it really helped me with my project. *Please not I received a free review copy of this book
August 16, 2018
I really enjoyed reading this book. This book demonstrates clearly the things that I love so much about National Geographic publications. The photographs are gorgeous and stunning. Some of them almost made me jump they were so close up. The author, Brian Skerry, took many of the photographs and as a result shares some of his experiences taking some of them. This is a fascinating glimpse into the career of a talented underwater photographer. The design of the book is large and browser friendly with bright colors and eye-catching arrangements of text and photographs. The subjects covered include definition of sharks and types of sharks, shark anatomy, shark reproduction and babies, the top sharks, shark myths busted, and colossal fossils. The information is fascinating making this a book to pore over. A great book for shark lovers of all ages.
July 1, 2018
Best shark book EVER! My kid is a shark nut and we checked out 15 or more books from the library about sharks, but nothing comes close to how awesome this book is!!! The pictures are beyond amazing and the facts are so fun to read! This book includes eight chapters; Spectacular Sharks, Exploring Shark Anatomy, The Secret Lives of Sharks, The Fintastic Fin, Shark Myths Busted, Colossal Fossils, Super Sharks and Be A Shark Defender!! My kids and I have spent hours paging through and reading about all about sharks. We are shark fans, so getting this book is like being a kid on Christmas! 5 stars. A MUST read for those who love sharks!!
June 14, 2018
I'm CRAZY about sharks! I think they're the coolest, most awesome animals on the planet and The Ultimate Book of Sharks does an excellent job of explaining why. This fintastic and fascinating books is overflowing with captivating shark facts, spectacular photographs, and truly engaging information. Young readers will have a blast diving into the world sharks and learning all about these gorgeous creatures. Perfect for shark lovers, and even those who are afraid of sharks will gain a new appreciation for them after to devouring this thrilling book!
August 10, 2018
Does this book make sharks scarier? No, it helps us gain an understanding of these amazing creatures. (It helps that it clarifies that humans really aren’t on a shark’s diet; usually it is a case of mistaken identity.) It explains the importance of sharks to our ocean and lastly lists ways in which we can help protect sharks.
For the full review: https://twobookwormsblog.wordpress.co...
For the full review: https://twobookwormsblog.wordpress.co...
November 17, 2018
Hands down one of the BEST books on sharks. Kids and Adults alike will learn tons about sharks in this beautifully curated encyclopedic volume of a book. Amazing photography, super interesting facts and simple language. This book has a ton of kid appeal but adults will find this volume equally intriguing.
Grab this book for gifting this season. You will NOT be disappointed.
Grab this book for gifting this season. You will NOT be disappointed.
March 6, 2020
A giant encyclopedia type book of sharks, with pictures, facts and organized information. Each two page spread is its own topic, and it's a great choice for ocean loving kids in the mood for predation. Only three stars from me because I'm not super into that, although having a shark lover to share it with would have made it more fun.
August 25, 2019
My son (4.5) LOVES this book. I understand it is for older children but he loves to read (listen mostly) about all the different sharks and info on them. He can "grow into" this book for years to come
July 29, 2018
I really enjoyed this book. The photos were amazing and there were great stories along with them. I have a new love and appreciation for sharks, more so than before reading this book.
May 24, 2019
This is a kids book but adults will like it too. Interesting facts and tons of great photos.
January 2, 2021
very informing about sharks
November 20, 2023
Outstanding photos and lots of great info! The book itself is large and has some weight to it.
January 20, 2025
Read this one with my animal-obsessed kindergartner. We especially liked the “Skerry Encounters” sections where the author shares stories about searching for and photographing sharks in different parts of the world.
April 25, 2021
Some of my favorite animals are sharks. This book was a great factual read and it was really fun to learn about an animal that is slowly going endangered. This book is a recommend to have in your library, because I believe that the facts in it really are detailed and help students understand the importance to protect the animals.
This book could be used to explore certain topics in the classroom some as endangered species, water animals, the marine systems, and even the life cycle when learning about predators. Sharks are known to be one of the top predates in the ocean. This is also a great book to do journal entries on or a book report when practicing writing in class, the facts can allow students to learn to site when they
re getting their reliable information from.
Highly Recommend! This book definitely belongs in the WOW category, because the facts are fun and the graphics are pretty cool. This best part is that thier is a lot of different information to work with as well.
This book could be used to explore certain topics in the classroom some as endangered species, water animals, the marine systems, and even the life cycle when learning about predators. Sharks are known to be one of the top predates in the ocean. This is also a great book to do journal entries on or a book report when practicing writing in class, the facts can allow students to learn to site when they
re getting their reliable information from.
Highly Recommend! This book definitely belongs in the WOW category, because the facts are fun and the graphics are pretty cool. This best part is that thier is a lot of different information to work with as well.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews