Sasha the Reef Shark

This is an Australian series about wonderful sea creatures and close-by land creatures, who work together to survive storms and threats to their survival. You meet a fascinating array of creatures with diverse personalities and endearing quirkiness. The stories are always morally uplifting, funny and usually deliver an unexpected twist, so always leave you smiling and wanting more.

In the first book, many of the storm-frightened creatures decide they need a wise leader, so they consult Gil the Grouper, who suggests a contest.

Wise Gil invites all the Reef creatures and asks them to sort into two teams, small and large and then announces three rounds. One race for the fastest from each team, one for the slowest and one to find lost treasure.

Each contest has unexpected outcomes but it’s the final round that is deeply thought provoking, as the contestants have to explain what they’ve learnt during the contest. Sasha, the white tipped reef shark, won the competition when she explained how she slowed down and got distracted during her search. She had never known how beautiful and diverse the reef was until she looked for the lost treasure. So finding the best leader wasn’t about speed or size, it was about honesty and caring.

Another story is about the reuniting of a lost hatchling leatherback turtle with his mother, when she returns a year later to lay a new clutch of eggs.

Probably the funniest story is about Seamore Seagull and how he explains to the smaller gulls he‘s training, why he only has one leg. He sets the scene about a family with hot chips and a dog. The small boy runs into the surf and the father chases him, leaving the chips unattended. Seamore naturally swoops in and picks up some prize chips but is caught mid flight by the dog. Then there is a loud pop. The entrawled young seagulls are shocked. “So is that how you lost your leg Mr Seamore?" they ask timidly. “Oh no, exclaimed the humerous teacher, I pulled the chips right out of that surprised dog‘s mouth". “But your leg?" they insisted. “Well I was born with only one leg and it’s never stopped me doing anything" Seamore explained gleefully. So the lesson is both inclusively modern and as old as storytelling has been about learning.

What I also love about this series is that it transitions from the world of the creatures to their involvement with trusted humans, Surfer Joe and his red headed brother, Little Henry. The bonds between them all are endearing and together they expose crooks, hunters, poachers and survive cyclones.

I also love the online extensions to the books with squeezable toys, and detailed character cards showing facts about their species and secrets about their personalities and lives. You get to know them and care about their survival and happiness. There are also games, jigsaws, colouring books, storytelling and colouring videos. So it’s a complete world and you can get thoroughly immersed in it which is the perfect safe but fascinating bedtime escapism. Lastly, I have to admit that I also love it all because I’m the proud creator and writer of the series.

https://sashaandfriends.com