Shark in the Park - (Squirlish) by Ellen Potter

About the Book

"Cordelia, a human girl living with squirrels in Central Park, must protect squirrel Prince Oliver during his quest for the Royal Scepter, but Prince Oliver has other plans and is more interested in finding a shark than a scepter"--

Book Synopsis

Cordelia and the squirrel prince embark on a quest to find a lost treasure in this thrilling second installment of the "sweet and silly" (Booklist) Squirlish series perfect for fans of Sophie Mouse and Critter Club!

Can there really be a shark in Central Park?

Cordelia is a human girl raised by squirrels in Central Park. She's famous among the squirrels, but it's still a surprise when the squirrel queen summons her to Belvedere Castle. The queen wants Cordelia to protect the shark-obsessed Prince Oliver as he goes on a quest to find the missing Royal Scepter.

But Cordelia and Oliver soon run into trouble. This is the first time Oliver has left the castle, and he is super excited. He ignores the dangers lurking everywhere, from skateboarders to super-slippery slides--to a scheming pirate! And the prince would much rather find a shark than a scepter. Can Cordelia even keep up with him, let alone keep him safe?

Will Cordelia get the prince to complete his mission and deliver him back to Belvedere Castle in one piece?

Review Quotes

"Fantastical, funny, and charming."--Kirkus Reviews "5/15/2024"

The continuing adventures of Cordelia, a young girl raised by a squirrel after she was abandoned in Central Park as a baby.

Cordelia considers herself "squirlish" "a little bit squirrel and a little bit girl." Though she speaks Chittering (the language of squirrels), moves nimbly through the trees, and lives in a snug treehouse in an old elm, she wears clothes supplied by a kindly groundskeeper and has human friends. Sometimes her stomach gets "blurggy" at the thought that she doesn't really belong. Summoned to Belvedere Castle by Queen Isabel, Cordelia initially worries that the squirrel leader is planning to banish her. But Queen Isabel instead instructs Cordelia to accompany Prince Oliver on his quest for the long-lost Royal Scepter. This won't be easy, since the young squirrel prince cares little for the scepter; all he can think about is sharks. Prince Oliver peppers Cordelia with shark questions, constantly drops his crown, and generally causes havoc. This fast-paced tale features delightful, inventive language, complemented by Cristofori's energetic cartoons. As in the previous series installment, Central Park feels like a major character, along with New York City itself. A noteworthy scene at the Museum of Natural History sees Cordelia and Oliver learning about Seneca Village, a 19th-century African American community that was displaced when the park was built. The characters are quirky, and readers will cheer for Cordelia--and laugh out loud often. Cordelia presents white.

Fantastical, funny, and charming. (map of Central Park) (Fantasy. 7-10)

--Kirkus Reviews "5/15/2024"

About the Author

Ellen Potter is the author of more than twenty award-winning novels for children and young adults, including the Squirlish series, the Hither & Nigh series, Olivia Kidney, Slob, the Big Foot and Little Foot series, the Piper Green and the Fairy Tree series, The Humming Room, Pish Posh, and The Kneebone Boy. Several of her books have been chosen by the New York Public Library for their Best 100 Books for Children list and have appeared on numerous state reading lists. Her nonfiction writing book, Spilling Ink, A Young Writer's Handbook, coauthored with Anne Mazer, was also chosen by the New York Public Library as a Best 100 Books for Children. Ellen lives in upstate New York with her family. For more information about Ellen and her books, visit EllenPotter.com.

Sara Cristofori is a writer and an illustrator based in the UK. She grew up in Italy, and her background studies comprise digital art, comics, fashion, and jewelry design. Nowadays, she is busy writing and illustrating books for kids, middle grade readers, and young adults. In her spare time, when she is not watching cartoons with her daughter, she is passionate about history and ethology.