Written by Julie Hedlund
Illustrated by Pamela Baron
Music and Narration by Tim McCanna
Published by Little Bahalia Publishing LLC
Category: Books
Ages: 3-11
Themes: marine animals, collective nouns, nonfiction, ecology
Platform: iPad (including mini)
Release Date: June 12th, 2013
Current Price: $2:99
Available at: Apple iTunes Store
Synopsis: Ahoy me hearties, brace yourselves for this fantastic sequel to A TROOP IS A 
GROUP OF MONKEYS, which has just be named one of the Guardian’s (UK) 50 top children’s apps of 2013. This app has us diving into the oceans to get our jaws around some juicy aquatic collective nouns like, ‘a battery of barracudas’ or ‘a fever of stingrays’. Not only do we accumulate a sea-ful of new nouns, most, I guarantee, new to kids and adults, but fun facts for each creature are shared in catchy rhymes and charming illustrations.
Key Features:
- Vibrantly illustrated and animated
- Every page has appropriate animal animation and noises
- A lyrical narrated option
- Originally composed music/song by Tim McCanna
- Great vocabulary building
- Reading Strategies section
- Core Curriculum information
Why I like this app: The text is suitable for Kindergartners through to their grandparents. Aside ‘flamboyance’ and ‘pod’, I was once again more than a little dumbstruck on how many of these collective nouns I did not know, and what I have been missing! I think I may have been able to cope better with the last six summers of jellyfish invasions if I had known they were called a smack! These words are just such fun to say out loud and use in stories. The imagery and illustrative scene for each sea creature make it very easy to visualize and remember long after the iPad is switched off. The sound effects took me back to many different ocean moments around the world and some of the animations had me laughing out loud (don’t miss the burping gull or egg-popping turtle!)
This is a visually appealing, humorous, entertaining and educational app with excellent additional resources making this as suitable for classroom use as well as fun reading time at home or on the beach! Only don’t blame me if Moms and Dads get a little bit jaded with their kids’ repeated singing of Tim McCanna’s catchy chorus!
Once again, I really appreciate the conclusion exhorting us to care for our underwater environment. Having lived on the Mediterranean the past fourteen years, I can’t tell you how upset I am to see the debris all around when out swimming and sailing. Apps like this will help children engage with our wonderful natural world. So, after their swim and before they head off to build a sandcastle, have your kids rolling on their beach towels with A SHIVER OF SHARKS.
Here’s a taster with The Shiver of Sharks Book App Trailer.
This book has been provided to me free of charge by the publisher in exchange for an honest review of the work.
In my 20's, with only my guitar and a rucksack, I wandered the continents, immersing myself in the lives of some wonderful people, projects and stories, which changed the way I view my responsibility to others and this earth. Right now I'm a European transplant in the US who writes books for children and young adults. Stories can help us not only navigate our world but can connect us to others, and allow us to inspire and help each other. I believe that equity and empathy should be at the core of our all actions, words, and stories.
I am also a school librarian and I get a kick out of book-matchmaking! And I use the pronouns she/her.
I MUST read this! I love the illustrations!
Erik, I think you, Josie and your parents will love this one.
Haven’t purchased the app yet, but I’m glad you’ve done review about it. I always trust your comment when it comes to app features! Julie’s apps are really well done and I like how both kids and adults enjoy interacting with them. Great review.
Thank you, Pat. This app is VERY catchy! I keep on flipping open my iPad to listen to it being narrated.