What’s That? Australian sharks, rays and skates

What’s That? Australian sharks, rays and skates Illustrated by Myke Mollard (Woodslane Press)  , ISBN 9781923350151  , RRP $24.99 (Hardcover)

Reviewed by Jude Mullen

Have you ever heard of a guitarfish or a greeneye spurdog? Did you know that goblin sharks have electroreceptors that help them to detect the heartbeats of their prey? Or that whale sharks swallow around 38 000 litres of seawater each day?

There are oceans of intriguing things to learn about the cartilaginous fish inhabiting the waters around us, and these are just a few of the amazing facts in What’s That? Australian sharks, rays and Skates by children’s illustrator, author educator and designer Myke Mollard.

This superbly illustrated book will fill young readers with awe and amazement as they discover astonishing details about the feeding habits, physical characteristics and quirky behaviours of these incredible creatures. It also delivers a message about the protection and conservation of the natural world - “Let’s listen to what nature is telling us.”

The layout of the book is inviting and easy to read. It is divided into three sections – sharks, rays and skates – and contains the definitions and differences for each species.  Each spread is filled with diagrams, maps, headings and subheadings as well as short paragraphs and snippets of texts scattered across the pages. The glossy hardcover and high-quality paper make it both visually appealing and durable for young readers to flip through.

What’s That? Australian sharks, rays and Skates is one of a series of non-fiction books about Australian animals published by Woodslane Press featuring illustrations by Myke Mollard. Other titles in this series include books about Australian reptiles, birds, insects, frogs, spiders and whales. ‘

Perfect for curious children aged from 6-12 years, this book will also appeal to classroom teachers looking for a great resource for developing children’s knowledge and understanding of the natural world.