Okay, so there are not one, but two books on my list about Eugenie Clark. That’s because I think she’s truly awesome and everyone should know about her! Both this picture book and Jess Keating’s Shark Lady make an excellent case for why brave, brilliant Clark ought to be a household name.

Keating’s biography is one of the best on the market for any aspiring ocean scientists out there, especially girls. Clark’s story is amazing, inspiring, and full of sharky intrigue. Don’t be a stranger to her story.

For a solid non-fiction introduction to all things shark, you need look no further than Miranda MacQuitty’s excellent volume from the venerable DK Eyewitness series. With top-notch photos and lots of detail, this is a must-read for seekers of fishy facts.

Nicola Davies is one of Britain’s best writers of poetry and non-fiction, and this award-winner deserves all its accolades. Find out what all the fuss is about with gory details, suitably scary illustrations, and fascinating facts.

I’m crazy about Owen Davey’s non-fiction books, which are fit to grace even the fanciest of coffee tables. With his sleek, modern digital illustrations rendered in gorgeous hues of deep turquoise and predatory pink, you’ll be ready to don your scuba mask and swim with the sharks yourself.

Gail Gibbons is the unofficial Queen of Juvenile Non-Fiction books, and this take on sharks is no exception. With Gibbons’ signature, clean illustrative style, you can learn a great deal about sharks and still feel like you’re reading a smooth narrative.

Nobody makes me laugh more reliably than Bob Shea, who you may know from such hilarious books as Don’t Play With Your Food! This light-hearted picture book is no exception and is great for reading to your whole family.

Are you looking for a shark non-fiction book you can read without help? This is a great pick. Full of action-packed photographs, Anne Shreiber’s contribution to the Nat Geo Kids series will get you excited about these massive predators all over again.

What is it about sharks that makes them such perfect funny book fodder? I couldn’t say, but I can tell you that this one is not to be missed if you love both sharks and laughter. Bonus: parents of a certain age will smile fondly remembering the classic SNL sketch of the same name.

This one falls firmly into the oldie-but-goodie category, having been published nearly thirty years ago. It’s a truly hysterical tale of a selfish boy who doesn’t want to share his overcrowded beach with other people and resorts to wearing a false shark fin to clear the ocean. Read on to find out how he gets rewarded for his bad behavior!

Katherine Roy has written some of the very best non-fiction picture books of the past decade, and this is among her very best. Don’t miss out on the thrilling tale Roy has to tell, and treat yourself to the grizzly, scientifically accurate illustrations.

Sometimes you just want a silly book with a ridiculous premise, and this one delivers on that score. The cartoonish illustrations have equally expressive faces on the shark and his rival in battle, the train. No spoilers as to who will triumph!