Mother of Sharks by Melissa Cristina Márquez

Abstract

Reviewed by: Mother of Sharks by Melissa Cristina Márquez Kate Quealy-Gainer Márquez, Melissa Cristina Mother of Sharks; illus. by Devin Elle Kurtz. Penguin Workshop, 2023 [48p] Trade ed. ISBN 9780593523582 $19.99 E-book ed. ISBN 9780593660560 $10.99 Reviewed from digital galleys Ad Gr. 2-4 As the sun sets over la Playita del Condado, young Meli uses her last few minutes at the beach to explore the tide pools, where she finds a talking hermit crab who introduces himself as Jaiba and invites Meli—whom he calls "the girl with the ocean [End Page 296] in her heart"—to explore the waters further. Considering she was only minimally fazed by the talking crab, she's equally as accepting of the fact that she can now breathe underwater, following Jaiba, as they swim past dying coral and sharks tangled in nets. It's not just the ocean they explore, however; soon, they're in a university library, studying books on sharks; then, they're watching a scientist give a talk on sharks; and eventually, she observes a crew of marine researchers tag sharks. Meli returns to la Playita del Condado, with a new purpose to protect the sea and all its creatures. Meli's exploration of the ocean is a whimsical but somewhat distracting framework for this biography of Márquez, a noted Hispanic marine biologist and ocean life educator. Few facts are given regarding her life or the world she studies, but there's still appeal in the more fantastical elements that highlight the wonder and vastness of the sea. The vibrant art exudes energy and warmth, inviting readers in first with the glowing, honey hues of the sunset, and then the jewel-toned richness of the underwater scenes. Additional materials will be needed for aspiring marine biologists looking for more detail on the profession, but youngsters who find themselves drawn to the sea just for the beauty of it will find a lovely oceanic portrait here. Copyright © 2023 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois