THE SILVER SHADOW

A shy brown-skinned girl catches a lionfish in her small bucket before releasing it. The next day, she discovers a baby shark stranded in the tidepools. She worries for the shark’s safety—the heat is oppressive, and her brother Sam and his friends want to sell the creature to fishermen. Though the child tells the little shark to be still, the other kids spot the animal and plot to catch her. Summoning strength “from a deep place. An ancient place,” the protagonist clenches her fists and shouts, “NO!” Surprised, the others back off. The relieved narrator watches over the shark until dusk, when her parents and, eventually, Sam come help look after the animal until high tide comes and washes her back out. Marley’s luminescent illustrations bathe the pages in cerulean, cobalt, azure, sapphire, and teal as well as emerald, olive, chartreuse, and, of course, sea green, immersing readers in the watery setting and beckoning them to care. Where rusts and browns meet blues and greens, the shark and the girl wait…until purples, pinks, and deep indigoes envelop them both. Dulak takes a skillfully light touch to fostering environmental stewardship in young kids while showcasing the beauty of the Caribbean setting; in an author’s note, she explains that she drew inspiration from her dad’s memories of growing up in Barbados.

May 13, 2025 - 05:22

A shy brown-skinned girl catches a lionfish in her small bucket before releasing it. The next day, she discovers a baby shark stranded in the tidepools. She worries for the shark’s safety—the heat is oppressive, and her brother Sam and his friends want to sell the creature to fishermen. Though the child tells the little shark to be still, the other kids spot the animal and plot to catch her. Summoning strength “from a deep place. An ancient place,” the protagonist clenches her fists and shouts, “NO!” Surprised, the others back off. The relieved narrator watches over the shark until dusk, when her parents and, eventually, Sam come help look after the animal until high tide comes and washes her back out. Marley’s luminescent illustrations bathe the pages in cerulean, cobalt, azure, sapphire, and teal as well as emerald, olive, chartreuse, and, of course, sea green, immersing readers in the watery setting and beckoning them to care. Where rusts and browns meet blues and greens, the shark and the girl wait…until purples, pinks, and deep indigoes envelop them both. Dulak takes a skillfully light touch to fostering environmental stewardship in young kids while showcasing the beauty of the Caribbean setting; in an author’s note, she explains that she drew inspiration from her dad’s memories of growing up in Barbados.