Hammerhead Sharks Up Close host Bertie Gregory dives with several Hammerhead Sharks (photo credit National Geographic/Jeff Hester).
Sharks are frequently depicted as scary, savage, or even bloodthirsty creatures in movies and pop culture. This negative imagery has contributed to a more widespread fear of sharks. However, through books and events such as National Geographic’s annual SharkFest, students and families can learn more about this apex predator of the ocean beyond the myth.
Although sharks may be known as some of the scariest creatures on the planet, there is a lot to learn about how sharks contribute to different ecosystems. “I think a lot of people look at them as mindless man-eaters, and that couldn’t be further from the truth,” shared Jeff Hester, an award-winning director of photography and producer specializing in underwater wildlife at National Geographic. Notably, sharks help keep ecosystems clean and healthy. Even as apex predators, their diets consist mostly of diseased or older animals. Unlike how they may be depicted in movies, sharks do not go out of their way to harm humans.
Hester, who is passionate about ocean storytelling, worked as an underwater cameraman for the SharkFest special Hammerhead Sharks Up Close with Bertie Gregory. Hester shared that his background as a biologist and NOAA [National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration] marine scientist has helped influence his decision-making underwater. For example, his science background helped him understand how to place himself when capturing shots as a cinematographer.
Scholastic’s Discovery Fair has more than 175 different science books and activity kits (photo courtesy of Scholastic).
Learning Through Books
Like SharkFest, books are a great way for kids to expand their knowledge on new topics. Kaleigh Duryea, Director of Product for Scholastic Reading Events, is responsible for selecting the products available at Scholastic’s Discovery Fair — a STEAM-Powered Book Fair that inspires reading and hands-on learning about science, art, nature, math, and more!
Through the Discovery Fair, which has more than 175 different science books and activity kits, kids can learn more about topics that they are interested in and discover new subjects, like sharks.
“Reading about cool and interesting topics like science and nature can create a spark of curiosity and that spark ignites a desire to learn even more and experience it yourself,” Duryea said. “Once a kid finds a topic they’re super interested in, like sharks after they watch Shark Week, books are the perfect vehicle to do a deep dive and learn even more.”
She continued, “Shark Week and events like National Geographic SharkFest this summer bring excitement around the topic kids already love and give them even more opportunities to learn facts of all sorts about these fascinating and fierce animals.”
Books also give students the opportunity to control their pace of learning. Duryea added, “After watching the show, books let you go at your own pace and keep coming back to the part[s] that fascinate you the most.”
Scholastic Kid Reporter Aiden An interviewed Jeff Hester, an award-winning director of photography and producer specializing in underwater wildlife at National Geographic.
An Adventurous Career
While he grew up in a mostly landlocked area, Hester discovered his love for the ocean through organizations such as National Geographic and books including The Log from the Sea of Cortez by John Steinbeck. Hester reflected on the way this book inspired him.
“[Steinbeck] talks about taking a sailboat around the Sea of Cortez, or Gulf of California, which is where we were working on this project, and documenting the different animals they were coming across, and talking about the expedition, and the exploration,” he said. “That, to me as a kid, was super exciting. I wanted to live this type of life.”
Learning about opportunities in the fields they are passionate about can help kids think about their future. As kids read, they can learn more about career paths like Hester’s, related to the topics they discover. “It’s really important for kids to know the endless possibilities out there to explore their passions and chase their dreams,” Duryea said. “For a kid that loves sharks or another science topic, seeing that there’s a job or hobby in real life lets you explore and learn about that topic even more, maybe even full-time … [It] lets them grow and nurture their passion and excitement with a big goal and dream to shoot for. Like [Hester], a kid reading about [someone with a cool job] might think, ‘Wait, that could be me someday!’”
Scholastic’s Discovery Fair — a STEAM-Powered Book Fair — inspires reading and hands-on learning about science, art, nature, math, and more (photo courtesy of Scholastic).
Duryea hopes that SharkFest will spark curiosity and excitement for kids and families. She shared that there is a lot more to explore even after watching the special, including reading facts in a cool book, doing a shark tooth dig activity kit and identifying the tooth type, following a recipe to create shark-themed snacks to enjoy, [and] playing shark games. Duryea also emphasized that kids can have fun seeing a shark in real life, as well as some of the facts they learned in action, after reading more about them. Visiting local aquariums or marine centers is a great way to celebrate SharkFest.
Hammerhead Sharks Up Close host Bertie Gregory dives at Revillagigedo Islands (photo credit: National Geographic/Jeff Hester).
Hammerhead Sharks Up Close with Bertie Gregory is available to stream on Disney+ and Hulu. To learn more about Scholastic’s Discovery Fair, click here.
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