Have a Fintastic Shark Week with a Prize Pack from National Geographic Kids! #fintastic #sharktastic #summerreading

**I received complimentary copies for consideration. All opinions are my own. 

Happy Shark Week! 

What is it about these creatures that fill us with both fear and awe? How are they so absolutely captivating that they have a whole week of television dedicated to them? I may not be able to answer these questions, but one thing I do know is that my kids go crazy for sharks too. 

I remember when my son was younger and we lived in California, we would make annual trips to SeaWorld. One of the places we always had to make sure to visit the shark exhibit. Every single time. 

Yes, sharks are cool. 

And National Geographic has out together a fantastic selection of books celebrating just how cool they are. Take a look:

National Geographic Readers: Sharks! (Level 2) (ages 4-7, paperback)

Expertly vetted, the National Geographic Readers series has drawn high critical praise from the likes of School Library Journal ("Highly Recommended") and Booklist (“Reliable in format and solid in execution, this series works well to introduce children of varying levels of reading comfort to nonfiction and research formats.”).  In this Level 2 Reader, young readers will learn all about sharks ― the fish who ruled the deep before dinosaurs roamed the Earth! 

Sharks vs. Sloths (ages 6-9, hardcover) 

In one corner, swinging in ever so slowly, is the chillest dude himself: Sloth! And making a splash in the other corner is Shark, ready to sink her teeth into this competition! At first glance, they might seem too different to duke it out, but wait---- you're in for a surprise! Readers have a ringside seat to view as they battle it out in 22 kooky and quirky categories, like Coolest Hangout, Weirdest Relatives, Best Smile, Biggest Appetite, and so much more. It's up to you to follow the action and decide who's the ultimate winner! A final spread devoted solely to conservation helps further National Geographic's core mission to save the planet. One thing we know for sure: You'll be a shark and sloth expert by the end of this epic showdown!

Ultimate Oceanpedia: The Most Complete Ocean Reference Ever (ages 7-10, hardcover)  

From tsunamis and sea turtles to riptides and reefs, learn all about the creatures, science, and ecology of our oceans, which cover more of the planet than all the continents and are just as important! Travel through all parts of the ocean to learn how it effects our world, including storms and climate. Amazing facts, photos, illustrations, and diagrams are found throughout this thick, keepsake volume, along with conservation tips, weird-but-true facts, and a mini ocean atlas. Challenges to the health of our ocean and its creatures are also presented along with what people are doing to keep it pristine for generations to come.

Can't Get Enough Shark Stuff (ages 7-10, paperback) 

Dive into the perfect combination of facts, stories, photos, and activities all about the world’s most ferocious and fascinating ocean predator―SHARKS! For animal lovers who are absolutely obsessed with everything sharks, this book has it all: tons of mind-blowing facts, games, hands-on activities and suspenseful stories from shark experts. It also includes tantalizing tidbits about perplexing prehistoric sharks, the latest info on studying sharks in the wild, and surprising, cutting-edge discoveries about shark behavior. Key features include:

A glossary game in the front of the book to learn key terms
More than 250 photographs
Detailed diagrams and infographics
Articles on the latest shark research and hands-on accounts from experts
“Fin-tastic Facts” gallery spreads showcasing sharks with the fiercest features, the sneakiest defenses, and more
Hands-on activities you can try at home
Quizzes and games to test your knowledge

The Ultimate Book of Sharks (ages 8-12, hardcover) by internationally acclaimed marine photographer and National Geographic Explorer Brian Skerry is an underwater adventure like no other.  With exclusive photographs and personal insight from Skerry, this book takes the reader below the surface and into the minds of these spectacular predators.  Beyond the feared fins and terrifying teeth, readers will learn what its like to swim with these amazing fish, how they live, what they eat, their superhero-like senses and better understand why these graceful, confident, perfectly sculpted predators are also vulnerable animals that we need to protect.  

Mission: Shark Rescue: All About Sharks and How to Save Them  (ages 10-14, paperback)  

Inspiring young animal lovers to get up close to all different types of sharks and the real-life challenges they face is what Mission: Shark Rescue is all about. This compelling narrative combines fun and amazing adventure stories, gorgeous photography, hands-on activities, fascinating information, and more, connecting the reader in-depth with the animal's real world. Meet real-life sharks and learn about their habitats, challenges, and successes, plus learn how YOU can take action and save these amazing endangered creatures.

We recently had the chance to check out these Fin-tastic books for ourselves. 

 First up, National Geographic Readers: Sharks! (Level 2). Now, both or my children are beyond these books, but they are an absolute must for early readers! They still have a lot of good information, but are written for those who are beginning to read on their own. While my kids have outgrown them now, these leveled readers were always a hit when they were a little younger... and the Nat Geo versions were always a favorite.

The book we were most excited about was definitely Sharks Vs. Sloths. What a funny combination. If there is an animal that my family enjoys as much as (or more than) sharks, it's certainly sloths! This was just such a fun and unique way to learn more facts about BOTH animals with fun facts, quizzes and more. We absolutely loved it. 

If you have a kid who loves the ocean, Ultimate Oceanpedia: The Most Complete Ocean Reference Ever is an absolute must have. The reason is right there in the title... it's the ultimate with so many facts and beautiful photography. My daughter actually used this book for research for a school project on habitats last year, and she learned so much and was able to knock her presentation out of the park with all that she had learned! 

For the kid who can't get enough shark stuff... well, Can't Get Enough Shark Stuff certainly seems up their alley, doesn't it? This is again packed full of amazing information, but is targeted just on sharks of all kinds. My daughter also really enjoyed this one, and frankly I do think the clever name certainly helped with that. 

The Ultimate Book of Sharks is another must have for the shark fanatic, but it does lean just a little bit older than the previous books mentioned. We absolutely love this one, with all it's amazing photographs. It will certainly take readers on a beautiful shark filled adventure. 

The final book was- I thought- rather unique- Mission: Shark Rescue: All About Sharks and How to Save Them. My daughter really enjoyed this one too, and after reading started talking about all the ways that she could encourage her friends to help save the sharks. More than just admiring them, this one really encourages kids to take action! That's a pretty great cause, right?

These books were all absolutely fantastic filled with brightly colored pages that were as stunning to look at as they were informative. My daughter absolutely loved learning more about sharks, and we love that there are so many options to fit all ages and reading levels. What a wonderful way to celebrate sharks this week...and beyond! 

You can learn more and connect below:

• A must-watch video featuring National Geographic Explorer Brian Skerry, photographing tiger sharks: https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/explore/books/ultimate-book-of-sharks/
• National Geographic Kids Books twitter - @NGKidsBks 
• National Geographic Kids Facebook - @nationalgeographickids
• National Geographic Kids website: http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/

In celebration of shark week, one very lucky reader is going to win a “Shark-tastic Grand Prize Pack" which consists of all 6 titles listed above (total ARV $96).  U.S. only. Enter using the giveaway form below.

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