Author: Nidhi Chanani
Illustrator: Nidhi Chanani with color by Elizabeth Kramer
© Date: 2022
Publisher: Viking
Pages: 75
Chapters: No
Illustrations: Yes, graphic novel
Publisher Recommended Age: 5-7
Bonus Activities at End of Book: Yes, hide and seek, fun facts, and how to draw Kitana
Summary from Book: Meet Kitana—a Shark Princess and the first of her kind! Her allergy-ridden mako shark best friend, Mack, wants to be one, too. But he worries that his sharp teeth and big sneezes make him too dangerous to be a princess.
With Kitana’s help, Mack realizes his unique shine. When Mack puts on his crown for the first time, these Shark Princesses are ready to explore the ocean and embark on a fintastic adventure!
Note: This review is done from memory. I originally read this a short bit ago.
Page Pig Thoughts: I wanted to love this one—a shark princess is such a fun idea, witty ocean verbiage was included, and the overall feel/look of the book was cute. However, this one just didn’t resonate with me or Page Pup. I never really got attached to the characters. And while the plot moved along, it never really excited me.
Family Unit: Kitana, a whale shark, is friends with Mack, a mako shark.
Conflict/Social Issues:
- Mack isn’t sure that he is able to be a shark princess, particularly due to his allergies.
Positive Items:
- Kitana supports Mack and lets him see the parts of himself that make an amazing princess.
- Mack’s allergies initially made him feel unworthy of being a princess. But in the end, they saved the day.
Items of Interest:
- Kitana and Mack get trapped underneath ship wreck rubble.
- Kitana gets injured under the rubble and bleeds a little.
- Mack’s allergies save the day when he sneezes himself out of the rubble.
- Mack has a special princess power of sparkling in the dark aka sharkles.
Other Books in Series (At Time of Posting):
- Book 2: Shark Princess – Shark Party! —— Page Pup and I also found this one to be just okay. Fun shark facts and discovering that not wanting to do everything your friend wants to do is okay. But overall, still just okay.
- Book 3: Shark Princess – Surfin’ Sharks
