This is book about a shark that overwhelms everyone when he tries to engage. He plays too hard with his friends, eats everyone's food, and talks a lot during class. He does not mean any harm so his teacher tells him to stop and think about "being cool" first before doing things. At first this is hard for Clark to remember but after he comes up with some rhymes for each personal rule, he was able to change and get along better with everyone. He was even able to help out a new student with his rhymes who also had problems with self-regulation. In the end they realize that there is a time and a place to "be cool" and a time and a place for them to play as hard as they can. This book could be used to teach students that it is important to consider the consequences of your actions and to self-regulate your behavior. The book did a good job of showing how, with trial and error, Clark was able to come up with a system that worked best for him. In addition, the book was careful about making Clark not come across as just a hurtful bully. This makes what he was doing more palatable although the book did end with, in part, the message that it is okay to play rough. Students make only hear that message when reading the book so the book may need to be adapted to exclude that part. Nevertheless, earlier in the book it did a good job of highlighting how playing rough could be hurting other children even when you do not realize how rough you are being. I think all students can learn from this book if some of the sentences are pared-down and the story is condensed. As it is, the book is a lot to ask students with disabilities to attend to but it still does a good job of conveying its message. Therefore, it should be adapted so all students can understand. I would have loved a book like this for my "nephew" when he was little. Hes' 12 now, but has ADHD and this book would have been an excellent guide to helping him help himself to keep "cool in school" while we were teaching him his techniques for just that. Clark is just SO HAPPY with EVERYTHING that he gets a little carried away. I think that every child will identify with this story, but if you have a child with Autism, ADD, ADHD or is the sibling of one, they will get a lot out of this book.
What do You think about Clark The Shark (2013)?
Maybe it would work for some kids, but mostly it was over the top cheesy and didactic.
—hopiecat18
Good for setting up rules at the beginning of the school year
—isadoras
A very cute story about having self-control at school.
—Kelly
Cute book read with my favorite first grader.
—Henri
