BooksForTopics Reading for Pleasure Recommendations
Book Title: Sam Wu is NOT Afraid of Sharks
Authors: Kevin Tsang & Katie Tsang (Authors), Nathan Reed (Illustrator)
Publisher: Egmont
Publication Date: June 2018
Most Suitable For: Years 2-4
Sam Wu is back with the second book in this enormously fun series suitable for lower KS2 (read our review of the first one here).
If you’ve read the first book, you’ll remember that Sam Wu is DEFINITELY NOT a scaredy-cat ….except when he is. When an encounter with a shark is a little bit too close for comfort during the school trip to the aquarium, Sam knows the best thing to do is to keep well away from sharks from now on.
Unfortunately for Sam, his plan is challenged when he receives an invitation to his classmate’s birthday party on the beach. Sam (who is NOT scared) quickly begins to list all of the reasons not to go to a beach party:
1. Sharks
2. Jellyfish
3. Crabs
4. Waves
Not wanting the rest of the class to think they are scaredy-cats, Sam and his friends now need to come up with a new plan that will enable them to enjoy the party and stay well away from very frightening shark-related situations.
Filled with warmth and humour, Sam’s chatty narrative is really the star of these books and is what makes the stories so relatable. This book will strike a chord with anyone who knows what it feels like to be more frightened then they want to admit (which, let’s face it, is most people). Coupled with Nathan Reed’s appealing cartoon-style illustrations that are perfectly placed to bring a visual element to the book’s humorous tone, this is a brilliantly fun book that would make a wonderful addition to Year 3 & 4 classrooms. I also really like the way in which Sam’s Chinese heritage is represented positively in this series without necessarily being central to the plot.
We are really looking forward to the next in the series, Sam Wu is not afraid of the Dark, expected early next year.
————————
Order Sam Wu is NOT afraid of Sharks online or from your local bookshop or library.
Many thanks to the publisher for kindly sending me a review copy of this book.
