Out in the vast, open ocean, a Great White Shark pup is born. He swims away from his mother, relying on the ocean to provide everything he needs to survive. He grows stronger as he drifts along the currents.
One day, huge waves surprise him, tossing him to and fro. He is slammed against rocks, his world turned upside down, until he is thrown onto the sandy shore of a beach.
People discover the pup and try to help, pulling him back into the surf – but each time, the waves push him back onto the sand. Divers arrive, hoping to guide him safely, but he keeps swimming in the wrong direction, straight toward the rocks.
The divers take him to an ocean pool, but the pup is confused, bumping into the walls. Realising he can’t stay there, they place him in a sling, lift him into a ute, and transport him to a large tank filled with ocean water. Through the night, the divers, wearing chain mail gloves, watch over him closely to ensure he is safe.
At sunrise, more divers arrive, again in chain mail gloves, checking on the shark pup. Using a sling, they carefully lift him into a boat that speeds across the ocean.
The world becomes a blur of wind, speed, and diesel. A diver leans over the tub, working to keep water moving over the pup’s gills.
Finally, out in the open ocean, the divers lower the shark pup into the water…
This clever and heartfelt book tells the true story of a great white shark pup rescued after being injured, highlighting the care and compassion of the humans who helped him. Along the way, fascinating facts about sharks are woven in – for example, sharks have electroreceptors that detect electrical and magnetic signals. The metal in the swimming pool had distorted these signals, causing the pup to lose his sense of direction.
The illustrations beautifully capture the vastness of the ocean, the power of crashing waves, and the strange, otherworldly feel of the pup’s journey into the outside world.
Through its story, this non-fiction picture book offers a positive view of this incredible predator, showing respect, empathy, and kindness for a creature that is often feared, yet plays a vital role in our oceans.
Reviewed by Jane Stephens
Age Guide 4+
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