School Days: Clark the Shark and the Big Book Report by Bruce Hale

"Tomorrow is Book Report Day!" said Mrs. Inkydink. "Is everybody ready?"

Only a few flippers went up.

Many of Clark the Shark's classmates are intimidated by having to speak in front of the whole group. Benny Blowfish admits he's nervous, and Ella Jellyfish confesses that she's scared, too. Only Clark the Shark seems unafraid.

Mrs. Inkydink bucks up their courage with a pep talk.

"Be bold. Be smart. Speak from the heart!"

"I can't wait," says Clark, with a toothy grin.

The looks on the faces of his classmates seem to say that's easier said than done. But Clark is a sharp student (in more ways than one), and he's sure he's got this book report thing under control.

He really likes his book, The Frog Prince. At home he creates what he thinks is a killer poster, advertising the book. He practices speaking in front of his family, and takes their advice to heart.

The next day he heads off to school, sure that his book report will be the best ever.

His best friend, Joey Mackerel, is not so confident.

"Aren't you nervous about talking in front of the class?" he asks.

"I know my book like the back of my flipper," boasts Clark.

Sure that his book report will be perfect, the self-confident Clark, waves his fin high in the air to go first. He even warms up his cold-blooded audience with a scale-tickling riddle:

"What do Frog Princes eat with their hamburgers?

FRENCH FLIES!"

But when Clark opens his jaws to launch into his actual report, his mind goes completely blank.

It's a classic case of stage fright for Clark the Shark, in Bruce Hale's beginning reader, Clark the Shark and the Big Book Report (I Can Read Level 1) (Harper, 2017), as the go-getter Clark learns a needed lesson about modesty, along with a lesson for the whole class in self-confidence. Bruce Hale's character, Clark the Shark, is a good example even when he's being a bad example for his classmates by learning to curb his braggadocio, paving the way for Joey, Ella, Benny, and the other Nervous Jellies in the class to take their turns courageously. Hale's illustrator, Guy Frances, comes through as usual with comic portrayals of his sub-marine students in this message to beginning readers.

"Cheerful, expressive illustrations provide contextual clues as they depict a classroom of friendly, supportive students. VERDICT A winning addition to the series," says School Library Journal.