The Snappy Shark

By Author / Illustrator

Michelle Robinson, Tim Budgen

Genre

Personal Growth

Age range(s)

Publisher

Scholastic

ISBN

9780702339059

Format

Paperback / softback

Published

14-08-2025

Synopsis

An exciting, snappy picture book from award-winning duo Michelle Robinson and Tim Budgen. When Mark the shark is playing with his friends, he loves to try his best. But no matter how hard he tries, sometimes he loses at the games or colours outside of the lines. And the more mistakes he makes, the more frustrated he gets until he... SNAAAPS! But when there's a commotion in the ocean, can Mark use his best talents to save the day?

The perfect picture book to help children to navigate their big emotions, with a message about patience, friendship, and celebrating your strengths. Bouncy, rhyming picture book text by Michelle Robinson, bestselling author of The Pumpkin Who Was Afraid of the Dark, Ten Fat Sausages, How to Wash a Woolly Mammoth and many more. Bright and bold illustrations full of character by Tim Budgen, illustrator of This is Me! and the Twenty at Bedtime series

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Reviews

Maria

Mark the shark loves to play and have fun in the sea but if he does not win, he goes SNAP and upsets his friends and spoils the games and fun. In The Snappy Shark, we are taken on a journey of Mark the shark's games and activities and his bad temper when he does not win. Mark's sea friends put up with him shouting, being unkind and being a cheat until they have had enough and they say "Be a little kinder, or we won't play games with you!" Mark the shark has some time to review his behaviour and, with some counting and slow breaths, he feels ready to play again. Fortunately Mark is later able to help his friends and his SNAP saves the day!

The Snappy Shark has an important message about patience, friendship and fairness, all important values for children to understand and to experience so they can navigate their own situations and show empathy to others.

The funny, rhyming text can also be used to support oracy and phonics, and the written text explores speech, questions and many grammar elements that can be used in the primary classroom. There are lots of new words to learn and understanding of the past tense, too. All great skills from this book. The illustrations are detailed and colourful with large spreads and small pictures too, so there's lots for children to explore and learn from and it can be used under a visualiser.

The Snappy Shark is a great book to use in PSHE lessons and also to teach children how to play fairly - and to learn how to play SNAP, too!!

Picture book / Reviewed by Maria, teacher