Sharks, Sharks and More Sharks: Celebrating the 30th Anniversary of Shark Week

Posted on July 2, 2018

by April S

The 30th Anniversary of Shark Week kicks off Sunday, July 22, 2018 on the Discovery Channel. Sharks are fascinating creatures with over 500 species of sharks swimming in our oceans today according to Smithsonian Ocean. While not much is known about ancient sharks, experts believe sharks have been around for at least 400 millions years.

How much do you really know about sharks? Why are they important to the ocean’s ecosystem? And are sharks really in danger of extinction? The answer to all of these questions and more can be answered using the resources below.

Learn More About Sharks

Children’s Picture Books Featuring Sharks

Shark Lady : The True Story of How Eugenie Clark Became the Ocean’s Most Fearless Scientist” written by Jess Keating; illustrated by Marta Alvarez Miguens

Shark lady : the true story of how Eugenie Clark became the ocean's most fearless scientist / written by Jess Keating ; illustrations by Marta Alvarez Miguens

A lavishly illustrated portrait of shark scientist Eugenie Clark describes the childhood fascination that prompted her challenge of negative perceptions about sharks throughout her career, revealing how she overcame gender barriers to make remarkable discoveries and promote conservation. Also available in eBook, eAudio, eVideo, Read-Along eVideo and DVD.

If Sharks Disappeared” by Lily Williams

If sharks disappeared / Lily Williams

Blends scientific and environmental facts in an engagingly illustrated exploration of how the planet would change without its shark populations, explaining how sharks are facing extinction and the important role sharks play in keeping the oceans clean.

Shawn Loves Sharks” by Curtis Manley ; pictures by Tracy Subisak

Shawn loves sharks / Curtis Manley ; pictures by Tracy Subisak

Loving sharks more than anything in the world, Shawn is disappointed when he is assigned a different kind of marine animal to learn about for a school project while his nemesis, Stacy, is assigned the shark subject he adores.

Sea Creatures From the Sky” written and illustrated by Ricardo Cortés

Sea creatures from the sky / written and illustrated by Ricardo Cortés

A touching, beautifully illustrated story of a misunderstood shark, and its quest to understand the world both above and below the sea. Also available in eBook.

Octonauts and the Whitetip Shark

Octonauts and the whitetip shark

The Octonauts are out on the reef when a scary whitetip shark attacks the GUP-A! A tiny pilot fish offers to lend a fin, giving Barnacles a brilliant idea: Pilot fish get their food by eating gunk off of things, and whitetip sharks offer pilot fish protection in return for cleaning their teeth. Maybe all this whitetip shark needs is a friend. Octonauts, let’s do this!

If you like this book, you may also enjoy the television series available for streaming on hoopla:

Season 1 | Season 2 | Season 3 | Season 4

Shark Baby” by Ann Downer ; illustrated by Shennen Bersani

Shark baby / by Ann Downer ; illustrated by Shennen Bersani

“Who am I?” wonders Shark Baby. When his “mermaid’s purse” egg case is torn loose in a storm, he finds himself on a journey through different ocean habitats: kelp forests, coral reefs, and seagrass meadows. He learns what kind of shark he isn’t, but not what kind he is. He needs to find the “mermaid” to learn where he belongs, but the ocean is big and full of dangers. Will he find out who he is—and what he can do—in time? Also available in eBook, eBook Spanish and eAudio.

Smiley Shark” by Ruth Galloway

Smiley Shark by Ruth Galloway

Smiley Shark’s toothy smile at first frightens the other sea animals, but it comes in handy to scare the fisherman when his friends are caught in a net.

I Love Sharks, Too!” by Leanne Shirtliffe, illustrated by Lorenzo Montatore

I Love Sharks, Too! by Leanne Shirtliffe, illustrated by Lorenzo Montatore

Stevie likes sharks. Like a LOT. In response to everything his mom asks him, Stevie has an excellent shark fact in response. ‘Brush your teeth, Stevie.’ ‘Mom, Mako sharks don’t have to brush their teeth because they are covered in fluoride.’ From morning to bedtime-you would think this might totally wear his mom down. But guess who likes, sharks, too? The book is filled with tons of fun facts, and also information about different shark breeds.

Nonfiction Children’s Books About Sharks

The Ultimate Book of Sharks” by Brian Skerry, National Geographic Kids

The Ultimate Book of Sharks by Brian Skerry - National Geographic Kids

An in-depth guide to sharks includes information on where they live, how they eat, the challenges they face, and whether or not certain species pose a danger to humans.

Diving with Sharks! : And More True Stories of Extreme Adventures!” by Margaret Gurevich

Diving with sharks! : and more true stories of extreme adventures! / Margaret Gurevich

Shares true stories of cave divers, extreme photographers, and researchers as they brave undersea adventures with sharks. Also available in eBook.

Swimming With Sharks : The Daring Discoveries of Eugenie Clark” by Heather Lang ; pictures by Jordi Solano

Swimming with sharks : the daring discoveries of Eugenie Clark / Heather Lang ; pictures by Jordi Solano

A biography of the scientist known as the “Shark Lady,” reveals how she turned a childhood passion into her life’s work, devoting herself to studying sharks and educating the public on the graceful, clever sea creatures.

World’s Weirdest Sharks” by Paul Mason

World's Weirdest Sharks by Paul Mason - eBook from hoopla

Chances are, when you think of sharks, it’s the great white or hammerhead that swim into view! But the world’s oceans hold around 500 different species of sharks, and some are extremely bizarre. Check out sharks with strong fins used to crawl on land, a whip-like tail to stun fish, a saw-like snout, and cunning seaweed camouflage. Meet the owners of these cool features and find out how they use them. Superb photographs and action-packed text take you down to the depths to view an array of fascinating but rarely seen creatures.

Sharks in Danger” by Paul Mason

Sharks in Danger by Paul Mason - eBook from hoopla

Sharks-sleek, fast-moving predators with powerful jaws-can take care of themselves, right? Wrong! Thanks to humans, many shark species are officially endangered and some iconic sharks even face extinction. This has happened through demand for shark fin soup, big-game fishing, ocean pollution, and other threats to their survival. Discover why sharks need our protection and why we need them. True stories and fascinating science combined with superb photographs explain how these incredible hunters have become the hunted-and also how we can protect them in the future.

Sharks are Awesome” by Patricia Hutchinson

Sharks are Awesome by Patricia Hutchinson - eBook from hoopla

Offers 12 exciting facts about these top predators, including a look at their diet, habitats, life cycle, and more. Full-color spreads give readers fascinating facts about several types of sharks and engage readers in their unique environments.

Learn More About the Variety of Sharks Living in Our Oceans Today

Basking Sharks by Laura Hamilton Waxman
Blacktip Reef Sharks by Allan Morey
Bull Sharks by Laura Hamilton Waxman
Great White Sharks by Laura Hamilton Waxman
Hammerhead Sharks by Allan Morey
Mako Sharks by Allen Morey
Tiger Sharks by Laura Hamilton Waxman
Whale Sharks by Allan Morey

Adult Books and Documentaries About Sharks

Resurrecting the Shark : A Scientific Obsession and the Mavericks Who Solved the Mystery of a 270-Million-Year-Old Fossil” by Susan Ewing

Resurrecting the Shark : A Scientific Obsession and the Mavericks who solved the mystery of a 270-million-year-old fossil / Susan Ewing (book)

Two men, independently fascinated with the Helicoprion, a mysterious, Paleozoic monster shark fossil, join forces with an unconventional group of like-minded collaborators to solve the puzzle of the creature’s unique spiral of teeth and learn more about the creature.

Demon Fish : Travels Through the Hidden World of Sharks” by Juliet Eilperin

Demon fish : travels through the hidden world of sharks / Juliet Eilperin

A global investigation into the surprising ways in which people and cultures relate to and engage with sharks includes coverage of Papua New Guinea’s creation myths, the finning practices of mainland China and the counsel of a Miami shark-fishing guide to his celebrity clients.

The Devil’s Teeth : A True Story of Obsession and Survival Among America’s Great White Sharks” by Susan Casey

A journalist describes how her fascination with great white sharks led her to Southeast Farallon Island, a remote island off the California coast, and to a group of biologists who study these fearsome, frequently misunderstood predators of the sea. Also available in eAudio.

Great White Shark” directed by Luke Creeswell and Steve McNicholas (documentary)

Great White Shark directed by Luke Creeswell and Steve McNicholas (documentary)

Misrepresented, maligned and on the verge of extinction, the great white shark is an iconic predator. Great White Shark explores the feared hunter’s place in our imaginations, fears and in the reality of its role at the top of the oceanic food chain. The film concentrates on key aggregation points around the world including Mexico, South Africa, Los Angeles and New Zealand. Key figures in the history of shark research and people whose lives have been changed by contact with the great white, tell of their experiences, culminating in a direct encounter between man and shark.

Shark Week : Jaws of Steel Collection” – documentary series by the Discovery Channel

Shark Week : Jaws of Steel Collection - documentary series by the Discovery Channel

Unravel the secrets of the ocean’s deadliest and most fascinating creature in these hit Discovery Channel specials that have captivated fans for more than 20 years.

Learn More About Sharks With These Great Online Resources

Shark Week – Discovery Channel

Shark Conservation – Sharkopedia

Basic Facts About Sharks – Defenders of Wildlife

Information About Sharks – Smithsonian Ocean

Shark Species – World Wildlife Federation

Educational Resources About Sharks – National Geographic


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