Clarke, Bethan. Snarky Sharky. Nikolas Ilic, Illus. Tiger Tales, 02/2025. [28]pp. Picture Book. Trade $18.99. 978-1-6643-0064-4. GRADES Preschool–3. ADDITIONAL.
A large shark named Snarky thinks he has outgrown his part of the ocean so he leaves to find something better. Filled with puns and other wordplay, Snarky bullies the smaller fish but things change once he encounters a larger shark. The narrative is in Snarky’s first person voice but runs on a little too long. It is the illustrations that will grab the attention of the young audience. The brightly colored artwork shows the underwater setting in the style of an animated cartoon (the illustrator is an Emmy Award-winning animator), with big eyes and expressive faces on all the see creatures. Sure to be popular.
Penny Peck—San José State University iSchool