https://ipoz.biz/ipstore/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=632

By Dr Charlotte Birkmanis, Josie Montano and Carla Hoffenberg

Interactive Press

ISBN: 9781922332936

AUD$26 for a hardback (also available as an eBook $13)

As a marine scientist and science communicator with two little kids under 5, I’m always looking for great marine-themed books to read to them. Little Shark Lulu is Sleeping is a really cute book about a little shark who cannot sleep with all the noises of the other animals in the ocean. The rhythm of the book was a bit hard to get used to at first, so I would recommend reading it a few times first before trying to read it out loud to your kids! I also had to explain a bit about what was going on to my four-year-old, as it wasn’t quite clear that the shark was supposed to be sleeping. I’m still not sure who is saying “Ssshhh” at the bottom of the pages – is it Lulu? Her parents? Is Lulu happy to be awake or is she telling the other animals off? I feel like even in a kids’ book, a bit more character development goes a long way to communicate the storyline and gets the reader more invested in the story. But the illustrations are just perfect, they are colourful and fun, with all the animals wearing pyjamas and the other small details my kids love looking at them.

The book also includes unusual animals and interesting facts that aren’t normally in kids’ books which is great. Having nautilus hatchlings and parrotfish as characters encourages more conversations with my kids about new species they hadn’t heard of before, and I even learnt something new about sperm whales sleeping vertically! I feel like these amazing things did seem to take priority over the storyline though, and a clearer storyline and rhythm would make this book a new favourite of mine and my kids. But overall, it’s a lovely book which finds itself constantly in our top five bedtime reads. I would definitely recommend this Little Shark Lulu is Sleeping to other parents, and I hope we get to see Little Shark Lulu on other adventures as well!

Reviewed by Nadene Claydon