Swimming with Sharks

Illustration for children's book Swimming with Sharks: see a dead hammerhead shark.Written by Twig C. George, Illustrated by Yong Chen
HarperCollins Publishers, Summer, 1999
ISBN 0-06-027-193-0

A chapter book for ages 7-10. Watercolor painting for cover and 13 black and white watercolor illustrations.

Book Summary: ...Until she began to take notice of the unusual-looking fish that visited her grandparents' dock every day. When Sarah discovers she's befriended a baby lemon shark, her fascination with sharks begins. Before long, Sarah and her grandfather are inseparable as they spend hours tracking, observing, and swimming with sharks. The Florida summer heats up quickly with heart-pounding shark encounters and the daring pursuit of two shark-fin poachers. This is a shark-filled summer Sarah and her grandfather won't soon forget. Read more about this children's book.

Book Description: No TV, no friends, and a grandfather struggling with retirement from marine biology — Sarah's sure her stay in the Florida Keys will be the most boring summer of her life.

That is, until she begins to take notice of the unusual-looking fish that visits her grandparents' dock every day. When Sarah discovers she's befriended a baby lemon shark, her fascination with sharks fakes roof. Before long, Sarah and her grandfather are inseparable as they spend hours tracking, observing, and swimming with sharks.

The Florida summer heats up quickly with heart-pounding shark encounters and the daring pursuit of two shark-fin poachers. This is a shark-filled summer Sarah and her grandfather won't soon forget.

For the preparation to illustrating this children's book, as the illustrator, I received lots of materials about sharks from the author, Twig and the editor, Amy. I have studied the lives of may different kinds of sharks: Angel Sharks, Basking Sharks, Blacktip Reef Sharks, Blue Sharks, Dogfish, Great White Sharks, Hammerhead Sharks, Mako Sharks, Nurse Sharks, Sandbar Sharks, Sandtiger Sharks, Six-gill Sawshark, Seven-gill Shark, Tiger Shark, Whale Sharks, White-Tip Reef Sharks, Wobbegong Sharks, Zebra Sharks.

Just like most people, I was afraid of sharks, or I should say, hated sharks, and because I knew very little about sharks. But after the study and reading Twig's story, I understood much better about sharks. As a part of the nature, we can learn much from studying the sharks. Learn More about Sharks.