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Science Comics

by Joe Flood, Monika Gajdzińska (Translator)

For over 400 million years, sharks have been the ocean's top predator! They're vital to our ecosystem, but their importance is often overshadowed by our own fear—even though they hardly ever threaten humans.

Dive in for an intimate look at the dynamic hammerhead, infamous great white, primordial megalodon, and the gentle nurse shark, the rare species that will let a scuba diver pet them! This book is filled to the gills with jaw-dropping illustrations and razor-sharp facts that shed light on these fascinating creatures of the deep, including their undersea terrain, cunning adaptability, and staggering variety.

Every volume of Science Comics offers a complete introduction to a particular topic—dinosaurs, coral reefs, the solar system, volcanoes, bats, flying machines, and more. These gorgeously illustrated graphic novels offer wildly entertaining views of their subjects. Whether you're a fourth grader doing a natural science unit at school or a thirty year old with a secret passion for airplanes, these books are for you!

Genres: Science, Graphic Novels, Nonfiction, Animals, Comics, Childrens, Graphic Novels Comics

128 pages, Hardcover

First published April 17, 2018

About the author

Joe Flood is a comic book author and illustrator whose work includes the Cellies series, The Cute Girl Network, the Pirates of the Caribbean series, and Orcs: Forged for War. For the Science Comics series, he collaborated with author MK Reed on Dinosaurs: Fossils and Feathers and wrote and illustrated Sharks: Nature’s Perfect Hunter. He lives with his wife and daughter in New York’s Hudson Valley.

Reviews

[Allison · Rating 4 out of 5]

summer 2025 reading challenge - read a book about sharks / read a book from the 500s section/ read a book about an animal

[Maximilian Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED this book because it was very Very VERY informative. It had TONS of information in it. It was about sharks. In this book a fisherman was trying to convince the really really really really really really really really really really CRAZY captain that the great white wasn't the only type of shark. He taught him about all of the types of sharks and what their abilities are. (ALSO A LITTLE RED FISH HELPED HIM HALF OF THE TIME (THE FISH GOT SCARED))

[Jeimy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first book from the Science Comics series, but it won't be the last. It is comprehensive, but presented in just the right way to keep young readers engaged.

[Kirsteen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting book. It is a fact book about sharks in the style of a comic book- no photos all drawings. Personally as a teacher, I prefer the traditional fact-file style book as they are clear and useful when teaching children new genres. However, I can imagine certain children loving this style.

It's colourful with lots of types of sharks in drawings. The information is 'bite-sized' because it is in windows of the comics. It is a little tricky to know where to read first as there is a lot on each page but I can imagine this will be a hit with ten year olds during silent reading. It's one you can dip in and out of again. Horrible science fans will probably enjoy this addition to their bookshelf

[Jai M {Cat Crazy Dragon } · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very, very cool.
Combination of fictional story (comics style), and facts slipped in.
My 7yr old niece loves it.

[David Schwan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice (but a bit tedious) introduction to what scientists know about sharks. In places the format got a bit annoying, but this is a children's book.

[Riley · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an amazing book! But also brings attention to the negative impact humans have done to sharks, which is upsetting.

I found this book to be very simple to read making it more enjoyable. I have read other books in this series (Science Comics) that ended up being very complicated and not worded well for the beginner getting into the topic that the book was about. But this book was spot on with the wording which I am happy about.

The book had a good balance of focusing on sharks themselves and all the really neat things sharks do like how they hunt. And the impact humans are having on sharks themselves and how media has played into putting sharks in a negative light.

I did find the parts in this book where humans are killing sharks to be slightly triggering but I realize that it is happening and we can't ignore it. It is just sad and frustrating that we know the impacts of causing sharks to become extinct... yet we still do it. And sad but true, we might not learn that we need to stop killing sharks until it will be to late and they will be gone. And THEN we will learn that we should have stopped a long time ago.

I really enjoyed reading this book and the author seems like a really passionate person about sharks!

[Kurt Browne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this book for my 8 year old grandson, but was so taken by it that I decided to read it first. This is an introduction to the variations, anatomy, behavioral, and evolutionary details of sharks – all of which are illustrated in comic book graphic “novel” form. Marvel Comics can't touch this – although Submariner comes close.

[Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Way better than I was expecting.

super cute series - just the right balance of silly jokes and real science facts. Kids should really enjoy them and will actually learn something.

Perfect for reading during commercials while watching Shark Week :)

[Scott Hayden · Rating 4 out of 5]

Colorful, informative, and fine. Evolutionary in perspective.

[Carla · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the Science Comics series. I was amazed at the amount of information contained in this graphic novel. Not only were there a lot of facts presented, there were also some great illustrations. There were many facts, information about different species and some history about evolution that I learned from reading this book. The graphic novel layout was appealing and skillfully done so that information was both pictorially and textually available. I can imagine using this resource with reluctant readers as the pictures would draw one in with their dramatic presentation and encourage the reader to find out more. The non-fiction narrative is tied together with a story about a fictional group of shark seekers, which leads into a discussion about the bad rap sharks have gotten over the years. The classic movie Jaws kicked off shark paranoia back in the mid-1970s. The book talks about most shark bites being accidental, as humans are not a normal food source and they really do not like the taste of us. Readers get a history of sharks from the prehistoric era until the present, with a look at shark physiology. migration patterns, variety, and eating habits. The book also contains a shark family tree and a glossary of terms. Overall a great book for those reluctant readers and those interested in sharks. This book will definitely whet their appetite for further research and information. A wonderful addition to a school, classroom, public or family library. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book via Netgalley.

[Ellon · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’ve read three other science comics so far and this was my least favorite of the bunch. It had some great information but I did no love the way it was presented. There didn’t seem to be a very good flow of information and this caused the pacing to be pretty choppy. I also think there might have been too much information squeezed into these pages. I’m an adult and I felt overwhelmed with information and technical science terms. I can’t imagine how a middle grade student would feel reading this. I would only really suggest this book to a student who is already very interested in sharks as I think it would be too overwhelming to someone who is just casually interested

[Suzanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the most often visited sections in an elementary school library is that which holds the books on sharks. Young readers are fascinated with these sea creatures in all their various forms. So I can easily predict that the latest Science Comics title will see high circulation rates and probably need replacement quite quickly.

The book begins with an introduction by marine conservation biologist, Dr. David Shiffman. He tells of his own fascination with sharks and his appreciation for the book and its contents. The book itself is filled with diagrams and images of the different species of sharks. One scene which will make adults grin in recognition shows a man tossing chum and a shark rising out of the water just as it happened in the movie "Jaws." Other pages show a series of creatures from various time periods all declining to swim in the ocean because there are sharks in there.

There are incredible facts such as, you are "more likely to be hospitalized for being struck by lightning...than for getting injured by a shark." The part that sharks play in the complex ocean food webs, the range of their sizes (from fitting in the palm of your hand to whale proportions), and pages showing the various orders of sharks within the Superorder Selachimorpha will satisfy those thirsty for details.

The images and text work well together to illustrate the amazing range of adaptations sharks have developed since their first ancestors appeared (an estimated 400 million years ago). With over 500 species, there are many opportunities for variation. Some species have phosphorescence. Thresher sharks use their tails as whips to stun their prey. Some species like the mako are even warm-blooded. One ability that will captivate readers who enjoy the gross and gruesome shows a shark turning its stomach inside out to expel what it cannot digest.

Folk lore and pop culture are also included. The Hawaiian legends of shapechanging shark gods, movies such as "Jaws," and the popularity of shark fin soup are all covered. Historic events like the early twentieth century shark attacks (covered in one of the I Survived books by Lauren Tarshis), as well as the more recent survivor story of Bethany Hamilton are also discussed.

Back matter includes a large spread showing the shark family tree, a glossary, and suggested phrases to use instead of the vilifying "shark attack." At the bottom of the glossary pages are illustrations of various shark egg cases (a.k.a. mermaid's purses).

Highly recommended for elementary and middle grade readers who enjoy nonfiction and books about animals.

I read an e-book provided by the publisher through NetGalley.

[Lorie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review is for the paperback edition of the title about sharks from the popular Science Comics series. The series offers solid, interesting facts about a topic illustrated and constructed like a comic book or graphic novel. The format appeals to kids, it is a non-threatening way to get kids to love reading about non-fiction topics.

The shark book delves into typical information on sharks including biology, evolution from ancient times and interesting species and their behavior. It also includes shark legends, myths, and some true stories that may have contributed to the fear modern people have about sharks and swimming in the ocean. It also highlights two problems contributing to dangerous decline in shark populations. The first is overfishing due to fear, sport, and cultures that overfish for “luxury” shark fin soup. It also talks about the “shark exploitation” tourism industry which creates an over contact between humans and sharks.

Book extras include a traditional word glossary and a picture glossary of different egg shark sacs, a detailed and illustrated shark family tree, and the “Don’t Say Shark Attack” page which highlights some shark friendly language to use when speaking about sharks and their natural behaviors. There is no table of contents or index which would help the reader focus in on a specific topic or help them review a particular section quickly. I believe the format is intended to present like a graphic novel, which you read like fiction-cover to cover. A simple index would be a good addition for serious shark fact readers.

The illustrated format, the cost effective paperback addition, the great facts about sharks, and the compelling pen, ink and digital illustrations make this an excellent choice for middle grade readers and the libraries that serve them. I would recommend this book for purchase by any school or public library.

This book was provided by the publisher for professional review by SWON Libraries.

[Rosemary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Science Comics has a one-two punch in March and April, first with Robots & Drones, next with Sharks. Kids LOVE sharks. The introduction nails it with its opening line: "Lots of kids, including many of you who are reading this book, go through an 'I love sharks' phase." Shark books move off my shelves faster than just about any animal, tied only by dinosaurs (and we've already got a Science Comic on them), so this book should be going in your cart, sight unseen. But since that's not what I do - and because I still do love sharks - here's a bit more to whet your shark appetites.

The nonfiction narrative is tied together with a story about a fictional group of shark seekers, which leads into a discussion about the bad rap sharks have gotten over the years. The classic movie Jaws kicked off shark paranoia back in the mid-1970s, and that's explored here, as is the fact that Jaws author Peter Benchley became a passionate shark conservationist in the aftermath of his book and subsequent movie.

Readers get a history of sharks from the prehistoric era until the present, with a look at shark physiology. migration patterns, variety, and eating habits. Spoiler alert: we don't taste very good to them, and any biting is purely accidental. We also get a peek at the one sea animal that can take down even a great white... and it ain't man. A shark family tree, glossary of terms, and a more accurate clarification of how to phrase shark incidents (the section's called "Don't Say 'Shark Attack'").

As I was writing this review up, one of my library kids peeked over my shoulder and saw the page scans. When I told him Sharks was coming out in April, he yelped, "Are you kidding me?!" which just goes to show you, Science Comics: Sharks is going to be a hit. I may have to order two copies.

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whelp, I had to do SOMETHING book-related to Shark Week!! This is an excellent intro to the world of legitimate, detailed Shark Science. It's absolutely perfect for kids age 7 to ~14, and honestly it's even pretty for grown ups.
Most people really only think of Great White Sharks when thinking of sharks, but they only comprise a tiny fraction of the worlds sharks (and they aren't even responsible for most of the fatalities they get blamed for ((yup, I'm looking at you, Bull Sharks))...).
This graphic novel introduction really drags readers into developing a more nuanced understanding of sharks, both their incredible variation and their unique behaviors (including some of my favorites, like Lemons, Black Tip Reefs, Nurses, and Epaulettes). It has a simple story that really does well to work in a startling number of important shark-y factoids.
It's a really good bit of exposure to the fact that sharks are Nature's Perfect Hunters without over-doing the scary bits. It does very well with showing that sharks all have individual personalities and are generally pretty shy and anxious creatures.
I HIGHLY recommend it for anyone who is at all interested in learning a little bit more about our Oceans' most important Apex Predators!!

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'd give this one a 3.5 as this series continues to impress. The author covers a topic that is quite popular with young readers--sharks. He carefully destroys some of the myths and media hype about sharks and takes care to discuss the wide variety of sharks and why they aren't considered to be fish as well as what makes them such efficient killing machines. Information about their ancestors and adaptations has been provided, and I enjoyed the colorful illustrations in this graphic novel filled with abundant facts. I wish there had been a little more connection between the humans in the boat in search of sharks and some of the facts, though, as well as more discussion of steps to take to insure that sharks continue to roam in the planet's oceans. It leaves me in awe to think of this species being around for 400 million years and saddens me to think of sharks being taken for their fins for shark fin soup and then thrown back into the ocean to die. If nothing else, perhaps this book raises enough awareness that diners will no longer request such a menu item. Science teachers will want to include this one on their shelves.

[Missy (Missy's Reads & Reviews) · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone who has been fascinated with sharks for the better part of her life, this book was a very enlightening read. As a mother who has a child that is obsessed with sharks, this was not only a great read - but priceless time spent with her son, reading and learning about something together. I thought I knew a decent amount of information when it came to sharks, then I read this book and felt as though I knew absolutely nothing going into the first few pages. This book is chock full of information on sharks, different species, evolution, etc. My son is five, so it was definitely a little too much for him to read. However, the beautiful illustrations kept his attention well on its own when I was busy - and the information was just as captivating when I was able to read this to him. I could see an older child with an inquisitive mind spending a lot of time with this book - maybe even using as a reference to impress his friends with all of his shark knowledge. For teaching, this would definitely be a hit to use for a unit study. I'd recommend this to parents and teachers alike.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone who has an irrational fear of sharks, this book was both illuminating and challenging. I learned so much more about sharks than I could have imagined, and found myself challenged to think about sharks with perhaps more information and less fear. The graphic/comic layout was appealing and skillfully done so that information was both pictorially and textually available. I can imagine using this resource with reluctant readers as the pictures would draw one in with their dramatic presentation and encourage the reader to find out more. As the parent of a "squeamish" child, the drawings are technically accurate and engaging while remaining comfortable for the reader with less graphic sensibilities. This book will be a great addition to a classroom science unit or for the budding scientist in any household.

Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this digital ARC in return for a fair and honest review.

[Janie G · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m a huge fan of the Science Comics series, they are fun and packed with information. I always learn something new from these books even though they are meant for kids! The subtle humor and easy to read format make these books great for reluctant readers and perfect for classrooms.

Sharks is full of fascinating information, it helps to dispell the idea that sharks are terrifying man-eating monsters (although the text still occasionally refers to them as monsters), but instead represents them as fascinating, highly-developed hunting machines. The book focuses on shark abilities and anatomy, their huge variations, and human impact on their world and survival, but I’m surprised that the book doesn’t mention shark researchers (we are totally obsessed with Eugenie Clark at our house!).

I received a digital ARC from the publisher via NetGalley.

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sharks are a fascinating animal. And many children are interested in learning about them. So this addition to the Science Comics series is a welcome one. The book mixes humor with fact using a red snapper and diver and silly illustrations. The information covered includes types of sharks, anatomy, hunting abilities, and brief two page spreads on specific species. Issues related to shark survival are also mentioned including pollution of the ocean, over fishing of prey, and killing of sharks for their fins. The illustrations in this book play a heavy role in reader understanding with some silly pictures breaking up the serious ones. The only issue I had with the book was the heavy use of official scientific name which slowed the reading of the book a bit, but passionate readers will push past that. A fun addition to a great series.

[LibraryCin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another in the Science Comics series, this focuses on sharks. Many people are fascinated by them; many are scared of them. This looks at their biology, their evolution, many different types of sharks, and their (rare) interactions with humans.

I love this series. It’s geared toward a younger audience, but there is so much for adults to learn, as well. These are also graphic novels, but with the colour pictures, they can illustrate so much of what is being explained to make it all easier to picture. Have to admit, I liked that this one had less “focus” on the story to tell us about sharks (in comparison to some of the other Science Comics); I’m sure that part of it is to appeal to younger readers, so maybe it is more appealing for the younger ones, but I feel like this one had less of that.

[Kristi · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book has nice illustrations but is heavily biased against people it’s true that people negatively very sharks as man eaters and need to be saved but it uses the word misinformation and says that the idea of sharks as vicious man eaters is deeply ingrained in our culture and tries to tell people not to call shark attacks wha they are shark attacks it’s says people live to channel their power and false depiction of a human labeled as a primate humans are not apes or monkeys this books seems to have leftists ideology seeping into it despite the good facts and illustrations I would suggests that parents not give this one to their children it is a fact that although these sharks are not man-eaters they can be dangerous and human being must be careful but we have as much right to the ocean as the sharks do but we must learn to live with understand and help them survive

[Kerri · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was SO much easier to read than the Spiders one (shudder). We know a lot more about Sharks than we do/did about spiders so not as much new information in this one but still fun, and we did learn some new things. Like how the top jaw is not actually connected to the skull like ours, which enables their jaws to kind of protrude forward for a larger bite, and some create a vacuum to draw in their prey, a bit like a gulper eel but maybe not as intense. The "family tree" was really fun though don't expect me to remember any of it.

TH1 liked it a lot because she liked learning about Sharks. She learned that shark skin looks like it is covered in tiny little teeth when seen super up close (I learned this too!).

Great illustrations, some a bit gory with blood but not near as bad as the spiders. Yikes. Very easy to follow and informative in a fun and engaging way.

[Deborah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Science Comic: Sharks is a wonderfully entertaining and educational graphic novel style book depicting the ins, outs, hows, and whys of sharks of all kinds. The comic book format delivers a science lesson that easily engages the most reluctant reader, especially those who love ocean-life and sharks. It explores food, cells, senses, abilities, and teeth, and whole lot more. Don't forget all those teeth! One icky fact is that sharks can turn their stomach inside out! How's that for cool/gross? Sure to be a hit with the boys.. There is plenty of science, colorful illustrations, informative facts, trivia and legend, all delivered in color, and humor at times.
In exchange for my honest review, NetGalley gave me the privilege of reading this book.

[Jenn Marshall · Rating 5 out of 5]

I heard about Science Comics at a literacy conference and knew I wanted to check them out. I read the one on basts first and Sharks next. Bot h had so much interesting information. Sharks felt more like a science text. Tons of cool information, but not so much a story. The bat comic told a story of an injured bat whereas this was just a lot of really cool facts. I loved both bookss and can't wait to check out more.

Some fun things I learned.
1. Not all sharks are cold blooded
2. There used to be a shark with spines on top of a fin.
3. There's a shark that glows in the dark

Some facts I knew and others were things I had to run out into the living room to read to my husband. I will definitely be reading this book again.

[alexander shay · Rating 3 out of 5]

Happened across a couple copies of this at the library, and after enjoying the one about crows, wanted to give it a try. There's not as much of a "plot" in this one to carry the facts, but I didn't mind that. I did wish the book covered more shark species than it did, but it goes over a lot of the general facts and even covers some history and evolution. A bit more focus on how sharks are not as dangerous to humans as we think would have also been good, but it does briefly go over that as well as shark finning and other harmful fishing practices. The art style and colors are very good and I think kids who want to learn information but find reading text nonfiction books hard would do well with this graphic novel.

[Nicola · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Science Comics are a great way of providing really detailed information in a visually detailed way. The level of content and scientific terms means these could easily be used by high school students. Reading it with someone younger, think about dipping in and out of the book with the parts that interest them and talking about the pictures.

Miss 5 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.

[Sandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chock full of information about sharks. I'm not sure how much will be absorbed by kids because there was so much information that I couldn't keep it all straight. I have loved sharks for a long time and yes I saw Jaws and all the other movies based on bad facts about this amazing creature. I used to go out into the ocean swimming and thought I was fine. Then I spoke to a police officer who would go up in the helicopters and fly over beaches and he told me how people were so unaware that sharks would swim around them all the time. So yes that stopped me from swimming in the ocean. I love sharks but I don't want to be that friendly with them.

[Raj Bowers-Racine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another solid volume from the Science Comics. As always, hundreds of interesting facts seamlessly tied together an over arching narrative.

Joe Flood really belongs in the world of non-fiction comics. Perfect fit. His art was already the best part of Cute Girl NetworkCute Girl Network. Hopefully he keeps knocking these out.