Giant Shark: Megalodon, Prehistoric Super Predator

by Caroline Arnold, Laurie Caple (Illustrations)

A portrait of the megalodon, a prehistoric shark more than fifty feet long, examines its habits and characteristics, from teeth the size of human hands to what scientists have learned from its fossil remains.

Genres: Picture Books, Nonfiction, Childrens, Animals

32 pages, Hardcover

First published August 21, 2000

Reviews

[Cindy Huskey · Rating 4 out of 5]

So, you think you’ve seen it all, huh? Well, this book is here to remind you that the ocean was once home to a prehistoric killing machine that could make the Jaws from your nightmares look like a goldfish. Forget your cute little “ocean documentaries” where dolphins do tricks and whales sing. We're talking about a 50-foot-long nightmare with teeth that could give a T-Rex a run for its money. Yes, my friends, it’s the megalodon, and this book gives you all the terrifying details you never asked for but somehow can’t stop reading.



Let’s talk teeth, shall we? We’re talking about teeth the size of human hands. HUMAN HANDS. Just imagine trying to floss that. As if a regular shark wasn’t scary enough, this prehistoric predator took "bite" to a whole new level, and I’m here for it. The book dives into how these monster teeth were used (hint: not for biting into fish tacos) and the chilling reality of how they dominated the ocean. Who needs a weapon when you’ve got a mouthful of natural disaster?

Then we get into the habits and characteristics of the megalodon, and I’m just sitting here thinking, “What kind of psychopath came up with the idea of making a fish this terrifying?” The megalodon apparently liked to snack on whales, because who wouldn’t want to target something that’s already several tons of pure meat? A shark that needs to go on a diet? NOPE. This beast is clearly living its best life, and the book presents its feeding habits like we should all be thrilled it didn’t decide to evolve into an apex predator of land.

As for the fossil remains, you’ll get an intimate look at how scientists have pieced together the megalodon’s existence, probably with the same excitement that people get when they finally figure out how to put IKEA furniture together. The fossilized teeth and bones give us just enough of a glimpse into the life of this monstrous fish to make you wonder whether the ocean should’ve just been left untouched, because now I’m wondering if the real sharks are just the ones who are too busy hiding from the megalodon’s ancient wrath.

In summary, this book is like the ocean's version of that one relative who keeps talking about their “crazy” past. It’s disturbing, fascinating, and absolutely unavoidable once it starts its story. So if you’re into learning about terrifying beasts that probably would’ve eaten you for lunch before you even saw it coming, this book is absolutely worth your time. Enjoy the nightmares, because I know I will.

[Cassandra Miller · Rating 3 out of 5]

Giant Shark: Megalodon, the Super Prehistoric Predator by Caroline Arnold is a great book to read and learn about sharks and Megalodon. I had the opportunity to read this book to a second grader when I was babysitting, this student loves sharks, especially reading about them. The book is very informational about Megalodon and gives some really cool facts about the prehistoric predator.

This book would be an awesome read aloud and supplement to an ocean unit in science or if sharks were the theme of the week. The book is pretty long and there are usually one or two paragraphs on a page but the illustrations are captivating and interesting. I think that this would work in grades 2-5 as a read aloud spanning a few days. Some of the content and illustrations might be scary for a K-1 classroom but I think the teacher could make the final decision about its appropriateness.

Overall, I think elementary students would enjoy learning about the ocean and sharks, especially since Megalodon is a relatively new scientific discovery. After the read aloud, this book could lead into a discussion or art activity about other creatures that we may not have discovered. Children could design their own prehistoric predator and present them to the class. In my future classroom I would like to implement a lesson on sharks and the ocean, since I am interested in them.

[vampire lover · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED IIIIIIITTTTTTTTTT

[Avaj · Rating 4 out of 5]

Informative book about sharks and all that they entail. A sure eye catcher for students in the classroom, entertain and teach simultaneously would could be better?