Sharky Marky is off on a scavenger hunt in this light children’s rhyming story that demonstrates good behavior.
Sharky Marky and other undersea creatures are driving along the ocean bed, competing in a scavenger hunt. Each competitor must find as many of the items on their list as possible. The competitors include: Walrus, Sally the Sea Lion, Puffer Horace the sea horse, and the ‘villains’ of the story – Meanie Marlin and Octo Eddy. The alphabet fun starts as soon as the light turns green and each item on the list introduces a new letter of the alphabet. As Sharky Marky and the creatures get through the list, it’s very clear that some creatures are willing to do anything to win – including cheat. Meanwhile Sharky Marky reveals that sometimes competitions are more fun when you play fair and even help your competition.
This high-quality produced hardcover picture book offers full-page illustrations. Though they are simple line drawings with little or no shading and detail that render them somewhat flat, the starkness of the illustrations has a certain appeal of its own by focusing attention on the characters and their actions. The idea of the scavenger hunt is a fun story concept that builds on alphabet skills for preschoolers and kindergartners while teaching about healthy competition and playing by the rules. The first three letters of the scavenger list and alphabet uses sea-related items but unfortunately the sea theme is not sustained. Instead, the scavenger hunt resorts to less original or enticing items like a “dirty old jug . . . on top of a handwoven rug”, that make for rhyming combinations that are simple, albeit contrived at times.
Although the story and illustrations don’t really take full advantage of the sea theme and the colorful cast of characters, it has its appeal. Sharky Marky is a likeable protagonist tackling the likes of Meanie and Eddy. The detailed illustration of everyone’s completed scavenger list provides a cute activity for young readers to discover who found what items. This gender free story with the definitions of the scavenger items at the back also creates a springboard for discussion on numerous topics, such as sea creatures and good behavior and, with more development, has potential as a long-lived series.
SHARKY MARKY AND THE SCAVENGER HUNT is a lesson on the alphabet and in good behavior.
~IndieReader.