Ariki and the Giant Shark

Moana fans will be thrilled at this series of short reads by Nicola Davies, illustrated by Nicola Kinnear, from Walker Books. Suitable for younger, beginner readers who love adventure stories on settings When Ariki is washed up on the shores of Turtle Beach, adorning tattoos on the side of her body, she is instantly cast as an outsider and labelled the 'strange one'. Local children are understandably weary and felt threatened by Ariki's natural ease with the ocean, where she belonged 'heart and soul'. Chores cast aside, much to her guardian's dismay, Ariki runs to the ocean with every chance she got, which is where her adventures begin. In the first of the series, Ariki is trying to catch a fish for tea to make up for the fact that she disowned her chores and yet what she finds instead is a giant shark never seen before. This causes a frenzy of fear amongst the locals who are too afraid and order the shark to be killed. Ariki cannot allow this to happen, feeling she has a unique bond with the shark - only she can save the day! This book would be most suited to younger readers or those who simply love to escape on a adventures in the sea. I would recommend this book to children aged 7+ as independent reads or shared stories with a younger audience. Stunning illustrations really bring this book to life and allow the reader to immerse themselves in the heart of the adventure. Be swept away with Ariki as she ventures into the sea! 144 pages / Ages 7+ / Reviewed by Kelly Buxton, teacher

Suggested Reading Age 7+