Land Shark

Written by Beth Ferry · Illustrated by Ben Mantle

A boy tries to convince his parents to get him a shark for his birthday.

5.5/7 Bookroo experts·3.9/5 Goodreads · 622 ratings

32 pages· 712 words· Est. 6 min read-aloud· AD520L

$16.99Save 6%

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Bookroo's summary

Bobby dreams of a pet shark for his birthday, but his parents surprise him with a puppy instead. Initially disappointed, Bobby's journey with his new furry friend challenges his expectations and opens his heart. Can a shark enthusiast find joy in a dog's wagging tail? Discover how an unexpected gift might be exactly what Bobby needs, blending humor and heart in a tale of unexpected friendship and discovery.

"Bobby had a plan. A fishy plan. A wishful plan. A frightful, delightful, bite-ful plan."

— from the book

From the publisher

The only thing Bobby wants for his birthday is a pet shark. So you can imagine his disappointment when his parents get him…a puppy. Everyone knows shark lovers can never become dog lovers. Or can they? Full of humor and heart, this book explores the idea that sometimes, getting exactly what you don’t want turns out to be exactly what you need.

At a glance

Format
Pages: 32
Words: 712
Reading age: 5–6
Audience: Picture
Lexile: AD520L

Themes & topics

Books about sharks Books about dogs Books about pets Books about being different Books about family

Inside the book

A peek between the covers

Good to know

Stories behind the story

We love Land Shark. It captures so well the closed-mindedness and stubbornness children can sometimes demonstrate, but also their cleverness and open hearts. Can you tell us more about how you came up with the story?

Land Shark was inspired by a friend’s new puppy. Our dogs were full-grown and I had forgotten how much destruction puppies can wreak. I’m not sure how I forgot, but I did. Sitting on the beach one day, the idea popped into my head that dogs were a lot like sharks, especially when it came to biting. I did some research and found lots of similarities and learned a lot about sharks! I love adding bits of nonfiction to my books if possible, such as tiger sharks eating garbage. Update on Land Shark: We now have a five-month old bulldog named Chaucer and I have found that I’m living my own book! He has chewed our kitchen wall, 5 electrical cords, all my kitchen stools and any shoe he can get his teeth on! He is truly a little land shark.

We know you live close to the beach, so are you a dog lover or shark lover?

Dog lover for sure. Ever since I saw Jaws as a kid, I have been afraid to venture too far out into the ocean. Silly, but true.

What readers & critics say

Reviews

5.5

out of 7

5.8

“Land Shark is one of my favorites! This book about a clever little boy obsessed with sharks is so witty and always makes me laugh. It's also fun to learn some facts about sharks while you're reading, and I love the fun illustrations and details in the pictures.”

B is for Bookworm

Trusted reviewer

5.0

“The illustrations for this story are beyond amazing and add so much additional detail, emotion, suspense and depth to this story that was already pretty great to begin with. As a mom, I don't love the destruction that this dog wreaks without consequence all across the house, but I do love the awesome vocabulary and the fact that although it does take a while, the little boy is able to adjust his expectations and revel in the wonderful gift he WAS given.”

Marmee

Trusted reviewer

The author