Mother of sharks / by Melissa Cristina Márquez ; illustrated by Devin Elle Kurtz.

Title :

Mother of sharks

Author:

Format:

Books

Summary:

At la Playita del Condado in Puerto Rico, Meli meets a crab, Jaiba, who takes her on a dreamlike underwater adventure, teaches her about the importance of shark conservation, and reveals Meli's ultimate destiny--to become the Mother of Sharks.

Language:

English

Language Note:

Text mainly in English with some Spanish.

Audience:

Ages 5-8. Penguin Workshop.

ISBN - ISSN:

9780593523582

059352358X

Physical Description:

1 volume (unpaged) : color illustrations ; 27 cm

Subject:

Marine animals -- Juvenile fiction.

Sharks -- Juvenile fiction.

Wildlife conservation -- Juvenile fiction.

Marine animals -- Fiction.

Sharks -- Fiction.

Wildlife conservation -- Fiction.

Puerto Rico -- Juvenile fiction.

Puerto Rico -- Fiction.

Animal fiction.

Picture books.

First Title value, for Searching:

Mother of sharks / by Melissa Cristina Márquez ; illustrated by Devin Elle Kurtz.

Holds: Copies:

Available:*

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Bound With These Titles

On Order

Summary

Forbes 30 Under 30 Honoree and globally renowned shark scientist Melissa Cristina Marquez teams up with award-winning illustrator Devin Elle Kurtz to create an informative, powerful picture book. With lyrical writing and gorgeous art, this moving story explores Melissa's personal journey from inquisitive ocean-loving child in Puerto Rico to becoming the Mother of Sharks.

As the sun sets over another gorgeous day at la Playita Del Condado in Puerto Rico, Meli doesn't want to go home. She loves the ocean more than anything, and with only five minutes left at the beach, she knows exactly where her last stop should be- the tidal pools. They are small universes of their own teeming with critters and creatures of the ocean. While looking into the pools, she meets a crab, Jaiba, who takes her on a dreamlike underwater adventure, teaches her about the importance of shark conservation, and reveals Meli's ultimate destiny- to become the Mother of Sharks.

Blending the autobiographical with the fantastical, Melissa Cristina Marquez shares her incredible story not only to dispel myths about these misunderstood creatures but also to pave the way for Latinas in STEM. Paired with Devin Elle Kurtz's vibrant, emotive illustrations, this picture book is an irresistible journey through the wonders of the ocean and, above all, a rallying cry for marine conservation.

Author Notes

Melissa Cristina Marquez (she/her) is a fiercely proud Hispanic marine biologist, wildlife educator, professional speaker, and presenter. She has given two TEDx talk on sharks and female scientists, and her work has been highlighted in NPR, Allure , Disney+, BBC, National Geographic, Good Morning America , and more. In 2021, Melissa was featured on the Forbes 30 Under 30- Science list and the InStyle "50 Badass Women" list. Melissa holds a BA in Marine Ecology and Conservation from New College of Florida and an MSc in Marine Biology from Victoria University. Born in Puerto Rico and raised in Mexico, Melissa aims to bring attention to the importance of diversity and inclusion with her writing.

Reviews (3)

Publisher's Weekly Review

A Latinx child takes a step toward a STEM career as a shark scientist in this empowering read from marine biologist Márquez (the Wild Survival series). After a day spent playing at Puerto Rico's Playita Del Condado, Meli begs her mami for just five more minutes, during which a tidal-pool encounter with talking hermit crab Jaiba results in an undersea adventure. Crabs and sea stars scuttle "along ancient sandy highways" around a vibrant coral reef, but all is not right: rising temperatures caused by climate change have bleached parts of the reef, and a mako shark is caught in a net nearby. Meli, portrayed with brown skin, wants to learn more about sharks, but indicates that she's never seen a shark scientist who looks like her. Traversing space and time, Jaiba takes Meli to various locations that would help her move into the field, including to see the "Mother of Sharks," an accomplished shark scientist who, it is soon revealed, is Meli herself. Artist Kurtz (Windows to Worlds, for adults) dapples the underwater landscape with plentiful light, while Márquez combines magical and real-world components in this engaging read that champions marine conservation efforts and the power of representation. Ages 5--8. Author's agent: Alexandra Weiss, Azantian Literary. Illustrator's agent: Seth Fishman, Gernert Co. (May)

Kirkus Review

A Latine ocean enthusiast gets the surprise of a lifetime in this tale from Márquez, a Puerto Rican shark scientist committed to making STEM fields more inclusive. As the sun sets on the beautiful Playita del Condado, Puerto Rico, Meli promises her mami that she'll be ready to leave in just five minutes. She's shocked when a hermit crab suddenly speaks to her. As Meli and her new friend, Jaiba, travel underwater and witness the effects of humans' damaging impacts on the ecosystem, her interest in sharks and ocean conservation is amplified. Meli, who is brown-skinned with curly brown hair, has many questions, but when Jaiba suggests she become a scientist, she quietly muses that she hasn't seen any who look like her. Then she and Jaiba find themselves in the audience of a lecture being delivered by a real-life scientist who resembles her. Meli observes the scientist, referred to as the Mother of Sharks, conducting research--and soon realizes that she and the scientist are one and the same. In a flash, she's back on the beach and her five minutes are up, but her passion for science has been ignited. Readers will soak up the vividly illustrated underwater scenes alongside the important message to follow their passions; children from marginalized backgrounds will be especially heartened by Márquez's encouraging tale. Meli and Jaiba speak English, though there's some unitalicized Spanish throughout. (This book was reviewed digitally.) A magical story for budding scientists. (author's note, glossary, resources, Spanish translations) (Picture book. 5-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Booklist Review

Márquez, a Latina marine biologist, weaves autobiographical elements into a fantasy narrative in this picture book for children interested in STEM, particularly those underrepresented in those fields. Before heading home from La Playita del Condado, a beach in Puerto Rico, young Meli explores a tidal pool, where she meets Jaiba, a talking hermit crab. Jaiba takes Meli on an underwater tour, and she discovers a mako shark trapped in a net. After releasing the shark, Meli becomes interested in all kinds of sharks. Time then speeds up, allowing her to visit a library with shark books, hear a female shark researcher, and meet this same researcher, deemed the "Mother of Sharks," on a field expedition. In this last encounter, Meli learns that she has met her future scientist self. Luminous illustrations that capture both the warm sunlight and turquoise waters add a vivid backdrop to the magical story, which also incorporates Spanish phrases. Endpapers of labeled sharks, informative back matter, and an encouraging letter from the author wrap up this entertaining and inspirational tale.