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Misunderstood Shark #2
Misunderstood Shark: Friends Don't Eat Friends
In this new Misunderstood Shark story from New York Times bestselling duo Ame Dyckman and Scott Magoon, Shark dares to ask the Can friends eat friends (and get away with it)? Last time on Underwater World with Bob Jellyfish..."SHARK ATE ME! Now get me OUT, Shark!""That's strange! I can hear Bob, but I can't see Bob!" This hilarious follow-up to Misunderstood Shark by New York Times bestselling duo Ame Dyckman and Scott Magoon tackles what it really means to be a good friend. Bob is already irate that Shark has eaten him, but when Shark doesn't admit to eating him, Bob is so mad he declares that the ocean isn't big enough for both of them! Friends Don't Eat Friends is exploding with over-the-top humor and awesome marine facts! For example, when Shark overdoses on Finilla Ice Cream after fighting with Bob, we learn that shark teeth are coated with fluoride. Lucky for Shark, he can't get cavities! Join Shark and the gang for another story and find out if Shark learns his lesson about friendship, or if he really is just misunderstood -- again!
42 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2019
4 people are currently reading
178 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 119 reviews
February 12, 2021
Kids will laugh, but adults will be the real fan of the humor in this sea-quel (get it?) to Misunderstood Shark.
November 10, 2021
This is the most gaslighting book ever. Nothing is cute about it. The shark was in the wrong. The Jellyfish was owed an apology and shouldn’t of had to do a run around just to end up apologizing to the shark when in-fact the shark was in the wrong. What exactly are we teaching kids? You manipulate and gaslight? It’s not misunderstood at all. It’s called gaslighting and manipulation.
February 20, 2019
The crew of Underwater World with Bob and Friends return for their second episode in this humorous follow-up to
Misunderstood Shark
. Bob the jellyfish, still angry at the fact that Shark ate him at the end of the previous installment of the series, insists that the ocean isn't big enough for the two of them. When Shark himself becomes upset, retreating to his grotto, can the other sea creatures set things right? Will Shark apologize? Will he admit that friends shouldn't eat friends...?
Like its predecessor, Misunderstood Shark: Friends Don't Eat Friends pairs a madcap underwater adventure from author Ame Dyckman, full of frenetic fun and lots of amusing speech bubbles, with humorous cartoon-style artwork from illustrator Scott Magoon. Also like its predecessor, this would make an excellent read-aloud, and is sure to find an appreciative audience with young children who like their stories with a silly sense of humor. Recommended to anyone who read and enjoyed the first picture-book about this set of characters, and their "documentary" television show.
Like its predecessor, Misunderstood Shark: Friends Don't Eat Friends pairs a madcap underwater adventure from author Ame Dyckman, full of frenetic fun and lots of amusing speech bubbles, with humorous cartoon-style artwork from illustrator Scott Magoon. Also like its predecessor, this would make an excellent read-aloud, and is sure to find an appreciative audience with young children who like their stories with a silly sense of humor. Recommended to anyone who read and enjoyed the first picture-book about this set of characters, and their "documentary" television show.
September 11, 2021
Featured in a grandma reads session.
Just like we all learned sometime very early in our lives that humans don't eat humans (it's like the number one rule according to one grandson), Shark has yet to learn that sharks don't eat friends. Yet when he is on the set, doing his show, the one in which he is the Star, he does. Yep. He eats his friend and director? Narrator? The Jellyfish. Not the Star, but still an important part of the show.
That's when the amazing things you don't know about the ocean, and the folks in it are revealed. GRoss stuff. Even the kids groaned. This one goes on the shelf of Weird Books About Stuff I Never Want To Know. Still, we were amused.
Just like we all learned sometime very early in our lives that humans don't eat humans (it's like the number one rule according to one grandson), Shark has yet to learn that sharks don't eat friends. Yet when he is on the set, doing his show, the one in which he is the Star, he does. Yep. He eats his friend and director? Narrator? The Jellyfish. Not the Star, but still an important part of the show.
That's when the amazing things you don't know about the ocean, and the folks in it are revealed. GRoss stuff. Even the kids groaned. This one goes on the shelf of Weird Books About Stuff I Never Want To Know. Still, we were amused.
November 10, 2021
This is a BAD BOOK.
The age range this book is directed towards are still learning to understand and navigate interpersonal relationships. They do not understand manipulation and psychological abuse, which is the main plot of this book.
This book starts off where the first ended– Bob, the jellyfish, had just been eaten by the shark. The shark then throws up the jellyfish.
Bob is understandably upset. But does shark apologize? No. He denies and downplays what he did (I didn't eat you; I was giving you a tour). Bob tells him that, no, you ate me. Shark demands proof. They show proof. Shark says Bob left his glasses in his stomach and gives him a ticket for littering and STILL refuses to admit he ate the jellyfish. Bob has now spent 9 pages trying to get the shark to apologize or at least admit he ate him. Shark then gets upset and claims to be the victim of Bob. "FRIENDS DON'T MAKE FRIENDS FEEL BAD ABOUT IT!" (It = eating the jellyfish, even though he's still refusing to admit he did it)
This is textbook DARVO (deny, attack, reverse victim and offender)
Shark swims off, upset. Everyone goes to placate him because they're worried he's going to go on a feeding frenzy. Shark continues to lie when they find him. Talking about this other friend (a starfish who ISN'T his friend and ends up ripping off his own leg to get away from the shark even) is better because "HE'D never hurt my feelings like YOU did!"
Seventeen pages in and THE JELLYFISH APOLOGIZES TO THE SHARK FOR HURTING HIS FEELINGS. It takes two more pages before the shark apologizes for eating him. He never apologizes for his behavior, for his deceit, for his manipulation. And he only apologizes because jellyfish continued to ask about it. And they never address the fact that he lied about eating jellyfish at all.
This is a TERRIBLE book. Don't read it to your children unless you want to have to explain gaslighting to a kindergartener. If I could give this zero stars, I would.
The age range this book is directed towards are still learning to understand and navigate interpersonal relationships. They do not understand manipulation and psychological abuse, which is the main plot of this book.
This book starts off where the first ended– Bob, the jellyfish, had just been eaten by the shark. The shark then throws up the jellyfish.
Bob is understandably upset. But does shark apologize? No. He denies and downplays what he did (I didn't eat you; I was giving you a tour). Bob tells him that, no, you ate me. Shark demands proof. They show proof. Shark says Bob left his glasses in his stomach and gives him a ticket for littering and STILL refuses to admit he ate the jellyfish. Bob has now spent 9 pages trying to get the shark to apologize or at least admit he ate him. Shark then gets upset and claims to be the victim of Bob. "FRIENDS DON'T MAKE FRIENDS FEEL BAD ABOUT IT!" (It = eating the jellyfish, even though he's still refusing to admit he did it)
This is textbook DARVO (deny, attack, reverse victim and offender)
Shark swims off, upset. Everyone goes to placate him because they're worried he's going to go on a feeding frenzy. Shark continues to lie when they find him. Talking about this other friend (a starfish who ISN'T his friend and ends up ripping off his own leg to get away from the shark even) is better because "HE'D never hurt my feelings like YOU did!"
Seventeen pages in and THE JELLYFISH APOLOGIZES TO THE SHARK FOR HURTING HIS FEELINGS. It takes two more pages before the shark apologizes for eating him. He never apologizes for his behavior, for his deceit, for his manipulation. And he only apologizes because jellyfish continued to ask about it. And they never address the fact that he lied about eating jellyfish at all.
This is a TERRIBLE book. Don't read it to your children unless you want to have to explain gaslighting to a kindergartener. If I could give this zero stars, I would.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 31, 2019
Amy Dyckman’s Misunderstood Shark: Friends Don’t Eat Friends picks up right where 2018’s Misunderstood Shark left off: with Shark regurgitating his friend Jellyfish. From there, television host Jellyfish tries to coax an apology from Shark for eating him. Shark thinks that Jellyfish is overreacting. After all, Shark says, he didn’t digest Jellyfish; he just temporarily ate him. As they navigate this friendship dilemma, many entertaining facts emerge about sharks and other sea creatures.
Friends Don’t Eat Friends is a picture book, but it has a lot of dialogue, which makes it read almost like a graphic novel. The laughs will keep readers engaged as they learn surprising information about marine biology and how (not) to treat their friends.
Friends Don’t Eat Friends is a picture book, but it has a lot of dialogue, which makes it read almost like a graphic novel. The laughs will keep readers engaged as they learn surprising information about marine biology and how (not) to treat their friends.
April 1, 2019
In this sequel to Misunderstood Shark, we are back on the set of Underwater World with Bob and Friends as they prepare to film another episode. After being vomited up, Bob the Jellyfish demands an apology from Shark for eating him in the first place. But, but, but… did Shark really eat Bob? Or was he just giving him an exclusive tour? Along with Magoon’s fun illustrations, there are a number of aside jokes (some for the adult readers) and interesting facts about marine life.
For more children's literature, middle grade literature, and YA literature reviews, feel free to visit my personal blog at The Miller Memo!
For more children's literature, middle grade literature, and YA literature reviews, feel free to visit my personal blog at The Miller Memo!
April 9, 2019
No. This book was even worse than the first. THIS IS NOT FRIENDSHIP. This is gaslighting 101. It is abusive and toxic and should not be normalized. Shark and Bob should not be "arguing" about whether Shark ate Bob. To make it even worse, Shark proceeds to emotionally manipulate Bob by saying he’s not going to be Bob’s friend anymore and that Bob has to apologize to HIM for hurting his feelings because he is mad at shark for eating him when he clearly didn’t!
August 31, 2019
I wanted to like this one. But I did not see any lessons in friendship in this book. If anything, how NOT to be a good friend.
January 18, 2020
It is a smooth transition to the story of Shark and Bob, the Jellyfish. More fun facts. I really do like when a kids book has either a good moral and/or something to learn.
October 26, 2019
More hijinks underwater! Moral of the story - don’t eat your friends!
July 6, 2019
This book is a direct sequel to Misunderstood Shark and carries on with exactly the same tone of the first. A book that blends perfectly facts about various underwater creatures while also teaching an important lesson of friendship and apologizing.
A great read for all kids.
A great read for all kids.
July 3, 2019
This fun sequel to Misunderstood Shark will have young readers giggling and grossed out (in a fun way)! Bob, who has been eaten by Shark, is very angry after being barfed up. Shark insists that he didn't eat Bob, it was all a misunderstanding. The back and forth includes fun facts about sharks and hilarious illustrations. This would definitely be a fun read aloud, but I would read the original Misunderstood Shark first if kids arene't familiar with it.
March 7, 2019
I'm not going to lie, my favorite part in this book was when Shark said, "Cool! I swear on all the boogers in my body."
And that tells you pretty much everything about the level of this book.
And that tells you pretty much everything about the level of this book.
February 25, 2019
The TV film crew for Underwater World with Bob and friends is back and Jellyfish Bob is still really mad. And who can blame him? Will Shark apologize?
Dyckman rolls in a lot of shark facts into this laugh-out loud, slightly-gross (in a kid pleasing way) picture book. Gastric eversion anyone?? And watch out for Shark's sudden onset of feeding frenzy ;-)
Scott Magoon's bright cartoon illustrations are terrific and the whole package is a giggle fest.
Dyckman rolls in a lot of shark facts into this laugh-out loud, slightly-gross (in a kid pleasing way) picture book. Gastric eversion anyone?? And watch out for Shark's sudden onset of feeding frenzy ;-)
Scott Magoon's bright cartoon illustrations are terrific and the whole package is a giggle fest.
March 12, 2019
In this sequel to Misunderstood Shark, Bob the Jellyfish wants Shark to apologize for eating him. There are many asides with fun facts about marine life and humorous dialog. As with the first book, sometimes it is a bit busy and confusing to know who is saying what. However, readers who enjoyed the silliness the first time will not be disappointed. Lower-middle grades.
April 26, 2019
A solid follow-up to Misunderstood Shark. Even though the joke starts to get old (for an adult; the kids will find it hysterical), there's still a lot of interesting information about sharks. And starfish.
Lots of great asides add to the humor.
Lots of great asides add to the humor.
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February 5, 2020Hard to pick up on if you don't know the characters from previous book(s.) The main character lies pathologically-- never a good trait to teach kids, especially when he's lauded at the end.
Pick "Nugget & Fang" or "We Don't Eat Our Classmates" for a similar theme with better characters, less snark, and faster pace.
Pick "Nugget & Fang" or "We Don't Eat Our Classmates" for a similar theme with better characters, less snark, and faster pace.
February 27, 2019
I LOVE this series! This is a hilarious way of providing children with more information (this is #2 in the series) about sharks!
February 26, 2020
I want to give it 5/5 but I have to knock off at least one star for shark's gaslighting.
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September 7, 2020In the second entry in the Misunderstood Shark series, Shark must repair his friendship with Bob the jellyfish after accidentally eating him while filming the previous episode of Bob’s “Underwater World” television show. The bright and colorful illustrations of Shark, Bob, and their friends gives the book a fun, cartoon-like quality that fits well with the narrative convention that the characters are filming a television show. Shark and Bob are followed through the book by their production crew (three octopi, and what appears to be a seal) who interrupt the story to show Shark and the readers things that happened in between the two books. Though this is a sequel, Friends Don’t Eat Friends gives the readers enough context that it could easily stand on its own. Readers will enjoy learning fun and sometimes gross, facts about sharks and the ocean. The comedic duo of misunderstood Shark and overly-serious Bob will entertain kindergarten through third grade readers while they learn about sea life.
November 3, 2020
What it's about: The shark is back! Actually, he never left - this book picks up immediately after the ending of the first book, with Bob dealing with being eaten by the shark!
The story continues on, with Shark becoming greatly offended by Bob's belief that Shark is not a good friend, since Shark ate Bob. When Shark storms off to find another friend, Bob has to decide whether he wants to be Shark's friend - and how dangerous that might be!
What I thought: I literally laughed out loud at the reaction of Shark, Bob, the entire film crew, and the viewing audience to what happens to Starfish (who is perfectly fine, thank you.)
This book doesn't feature the same type of science tidbits that the first book does, focusing instead on the story of Shark being misunderstood, and how that affects his feelings. But it still has some fun moments, and once again, the art is quite enjoyable and features some elements that will particularly engage young, sharp-eyed readers.
Why I rated it like I did:
The story continues on, with Shark becoming greatly offended by Bob's belief that Shark is not a good friend, since Shark ate Bob. When Shark storms off to find another friend, Bob has to decide whether he wants to be Shark's friend - and how dangerous that might be!
What I thought: I literally laughed out loud at the reaction of Shark, Bob, the entire film crew, and the viewing audience to what happens to Starfish (who is perfectly fine, thank you.)
This book doesn't feature the same type of science tidbits that the first book does, focusing instead on the story of Shark being misunderstood, and how that affects his feelings. But it still has some fun moments, and once again, the art is quite enjoyable and features some elements that will particularly engage young, sharp-eyed readers.
Why I rated it like I did:
Read
February 2, 2026This is a book about a shark who ate his friend and then threw him up. His friend is obviously annoyed and upset by this and scolds the shark for eating him. The shark gets upset and leaves. His friend goes after him and apologizes for hurting the shark's feelings and the shark apologizes for eating him.
At first the topic of this book caught me off guard, but by the end- I really liked this book! The illustrations are fun and feel hand drawn! I like the ending and I think it teaches good morals of how to take responsibility for your actions- even if you didn't mean to hurt someone. I would only read this book to my own kids and not in a classroom because it has the word "anus" in it.
I would use this book as a conversation starter about accountability for actions. Kids often struggle to learn why we need to say sorry if they didn't mean to hurt someone and it was just an accident. This book shows how our words and actions can hurt people. It also shows great honest communication between friends. I also like how even though they argued, they can still be good friends again.
At first the topic of this book caught me off guard, but by the end- I really liked this book! The illustrations are fun and feel hand drawn! I like the ending and I think it teaches good morals of how to take responsibility for your actions- even if you didn't mean to hurt someone. I would only read this book to my own kids and not in a classroom because it has the word "anus" in it.
I would use this book as a conversation starter about accountability for actions. Kids often struggle to learn why we need to say sorry if they didn't mean to hurt someone and it was just an accident. This book shows how our words and actions can hurt people. It also shows great honest communication between friends. I also like how even though they argued, they can still be good friends again.
February 4, 2019
Sometimes when a book ends, it's not the final conclusion. Oh, no . . . there is more story to tell. The characters have a lot more to say. They have a lot more to do. When we are introduced to them, it's just a beginning full of promise.
As the final pages and the closing endpapers, are disclosed in Misunderstood Shark (Orchard Books, an imprint of Scholastic Inc., April 24, 2018) readers feel disbelief as they try to digest what has happened. The unknown fate of the fabulous Underwater World with Bob leaves us (and him) in the dark. The companion title and sequel Misunderstood Shark Friends Don't Eat Friends (Orchard Books, an imprint of Scholastic Inc., January 29, 2019) written by Ame Dyckman with illustrations by Scott Magoon makes everything less murky as we peer into the depths of the water.
My full recommendation: https://librariansquest.blogspot.com/...
As the final pages and the closing endpapers, are disclosed in Misunderstood Shark (Orchard Books, an imprint of Scholastic Inc., April 24, 2018) readers feel disbelief as they try to digest what has happened. The unknown fate of the fabulous Underwater World with Bob leaves us (and him) in the dark. The companion title and sequel Misunderstood Shark Friends Don't Eat Friends (Orchard Books, an imprint of Scholastic Inc., January 29, 2019) written by Ame Dyckman with illustrations by Scott Magoon makes everything less murky as we peer into the depths of the water.
My full recommendation: https://librariansquest.blogspot.com/...
June 22, 2019
Picking up right where the previous Misunderstood Shark story left off, this picture book follows the friendly shark and Bob, the broadcaster, as they try to repair their friendship. Readers will recall that Shark swallowed Bob earlier. Bob had defended Shark and insisted that his reputation was not deserved. All the little asides such as Shark swearing by his bones when sharks don't have bones but cartilage and tidbits about gastric eversion are nestled within plenty of humor and silliness as Shark goes off to sulk when Bob is skeptical about his friendship. While it might not make sense that sharks have feelings, this one does, and he explores his feelings in this funny picture book. The colorful cartoonlike illustrations and text allow readers to learn more about this species even while laughing all the way through the book.
February 14, 2019
Friends Don’t Eat Friends (Misunderstood Shark) by Amy Dyckman, illustrated by Scott Magoon. PICTURE BOOK. Orchard (Scholastic), FEB 2019. $18. 9781338113884
BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K, EL (K-3) - ESSENTIAL
AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH
Bob may have escaped Shark’s stomach, but he is not ready to forgive Shark just yet. Shark doesn’t think he did anything wrong – he was just giving Bob a tour inside his Bob. I hope Shark and Bob can work out their differences!
Welcome back to the Misunderstood Shark world. Besides learning more facts about sharks (and starfish), you will also roll on the ground in laughter!
Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS
https://kissthebookjr.blogspot.com/20...
BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K, EL (K-3) - ESSENTIAL
AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH
Bob may have escaped Shark’s stomach, but he is not ready to forgive Shark just yet. Shark doesn’t think he did anything wrong – he was just giving Bob a tour inside his Bob. I hope Shark and Bob can work out their differences!
Welcome back to the Misunderstood Shark world. Besides learning more facts about sharks (and starfish), you will also roll on the ground in laughter!
Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS
https://kissthebookjr.blogspot.com/20...
May 19, 2021
This book is a little odd. I feel like I'm missing something. Perhaps you needed to have read the first installment of "Misunderstood Shark," to really get it, but I feel like I was given all of the necessary parts and it still didn't really hit home for me. In this story, Shark is both being interviewed for an underwater talk show and by his friend the Jellyfish who he has evidently recently eaten. The friend insists that Shark has recently eaten him in the past and defend himself using actual facts about sharks, like that sharks are made of cartilage, that the ocean covers 70% of the Earth, and that Sharks barf up what they cannot digest. I like the book, but I think it needs to be more straightforward to be a winner with students.
October 19, 2021
After the events in the last book Bob and Shark have some major issues to work through. But Shark doesn't want to admit he did wrong, and Bob didn't realize Shark's feelings got hurt too. Can these two work through their problems and actually be friends?
This is actually a really great little look at how you need to talk things out and not just make assumptions when there are disagreements and incidents that require apologies. I love how Shark and Bob eventually work things out, and readers get to laugh along the way. There's also some fun little shark facts readers get to learn along the way, and the illustrations are very fun. I think I like book 1 even better now that there's this follow up. Definitely recommended to read both together.
This is actually a really great little look at how you need to talk things out and not just make assumptions when there are disagreements and incidents that require apologies. I love how Shark and Bob eventually work things out, and readers get to laugh along the way. There's also some fun little shark facts readers get to learn along the way, and the illustrations are very fun. I think I like book 1 even better now that there's this follow up. Definitely recommended to read both together.
February 23, 2019
{My thoughts} – The cover to this book is beautifully illustrated like the previous book in the series. The illustrations within the pages of the book go together hand and hand with the text.
I really enjoyed reading this book with my daughter. It is funny and helps to teach children what it means to be a friend. It also has some included facts about sharks within the pages, which help children to learn more about sharks.
I think that any child that gets this book added to their library will love it. It’s fun, funny and factual. This is certainly a book that has the potential to become a loved book.
I really enjoyed reading this book with my daughter. It is funny and helps to teach children what it means to be a friend. It also has some included facts about sharks within the pages, which help children to learn more about sharks.
I think that any child that gets this book added to their library will love it. It’s fun, funny and factual. This is certainly a book that has the potential to become a loved book.
October 21, 2022
This is one book I hope is accompanied by a discussion with an adult. The jellyfish is in an abusive friendship with the shark; being eaten by the shark and then forced to apologize for trying to set boundaries and asking for an apology. Although he does eventually get an apology, there is no indication that the shark leaned his lesson and it is strongly implied that this sort of behavior will continue. This could be used to discuss how to identify and respond to "friends" that are actually manipulative or bullying, but I fear too many kids will just notice the humor, thus normalizing the shark's behavior.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 119 reviews