Additional information
by Consie Berghausen (Author), Nina Berghausen (Illustrator)
A Shark! Named Jamison is a true story about the adventure and rescue of a juvenile great white shark on the coast of Cape Cod during the summer of 2015. A surprise landing for Jamison caused a surprise for the beach goers and an unexpected rescue opportunity.
Many of the researchers from the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy believe that the great white shark that washed up on a Chatham beach during the summer of 2015, and was tagged and named "Jamison," may have pulled through after his unexpected ordeal. The story, the rescue and the amazing community teamwork to ensure that Jamison's adventure ended with the shark's survival is still being admired around the world.
In their new book, A Shark! Named Jamison, Consie and Nina Berghausen take on the challenge of creating a version of Jamison's true story and adventure written as a reader for ages 5-12 (K-6) and a great picture book for preschoolers. Their year-long effort to perfect both the text and illustrations of a colorful, fully illustrated book seems to have paid off.
As the author, Consie gives the young readers an opportunity to go inside the mind of "Jamison" and imagine how a juvenile white shark could find himself in such a position. In the thirty-eight page book, she challenges the young reader to imagine what Jamison must have been thinking as he was the center of attention in the waters and on a beach in beautiful Cape Cod. Her distinctive sense of rhyme and her gentle treatment of a harrowing ordeal skillfully allow young readers to enjoy the suspense of a good story "gone badly" and then "good again."
Nina's ascending brilliance as an illustrator and artist is displayed on every page of the book. The way she is able to seamlessly choreograph her mother's sense of rhyme within the true, natural colors and unbelievable beauty of the waters and beaches of Cape Cod is quite captivating.
At the front of the book, parents will find a "Parents Corner" page with some tantalizing facts about sharks to share with the youngest readers and prepare them for Jamison's amazing adventure.
By all accounts, the mother and daughter team also display amazing teamwork in their new book and has exceeded all expectations.
This is the fourth Book written and illustrated by the team of Consie and Nina Berghausen. Consie splits her time between Tucson, Arizona and Chatham, Massachusetts. Her home in Chatham is on a saltwater marsh. It is her many years of watching wildlife out her back window that inspired her debut novel, The Saltwater Marsh, a Magical Place. She and Riverhaven books most recently teamed up to publish her next story set in Chatham, The Cormorant and the Clam. A teacher and former therapist, Consie now enjoys writing about nature and wildlife. She plays the piano and a mean game of tennis. Nina is a graphic design artist in California. She enjoys working at the public library, playing tennis, and horseback riding. She also has a heart for animals.
