SHARK WEEK is underway, so it is perfect today to feature…
Sharks in Kansas: The Ancient Sea in the Middle of America
Author: Melissa Stewart
Illustrator: Becca Stadtlander
Published July 7th, 2026 by Random House Studio
Summary: Sharks in Kansas? Seems impossible, right? After all, Kansas is smack dab in the middle of the United States — more than 1,000 miles from the closest ocean. But the world hasn’t always looked the way it does today.
Once upon a time, 85 million years ago, the middle of America was a watery world called the Western Interior Seaway. At the water’s surface, mighty mosasaurs attacked flightless birds bobbing on the waves. Deeper down, turtles the size of a small car fed on fish and ammonites. But the most ferocious hunters were the sharks. More than a dozen species cruised through the ancient sea in search of prey, and when they spotted a target … Chomp!
Journey into the past for a fascinating look at the incredible cast of creatures that once lived where we live now.
About the Author: Melissa Stewart is a leading voice in children’s nonfiction, with more than 200 science books to her name. Her work has been translated into more than a dozen languages and garnered such awards as the Sibert Honor, two Green Earth Book Awards, and four ALA Notables. Her best-known titles include Whale Fall, illustrated by Rob Dunlavey, Tree Hole Homes, illustrated by Amy Hevron, and Feathers: Not Just for Flying, illustrated by Sarah S. Brannen. After earning a bachelor’s degree in biology from Union College and a master’s degree in science journalism from New York University, Melissa worked as a children’s book editor for nine years before becoming a full-time writer. While gathering information for her books, she has explored tropical rain forests in Costa Rica, gone on safari in East Africa, and swum with sea lions in the Galapagos Islands. She lives in Massachusetts. For more information, including teacher resources, videos, and more, visit melissa-stewart.com.
Instagram @melissastewartscience | Facebook Melissa Stewart | Bluesky @melissastewartscience | LinkedIn Melissa Stewart
About the Illustrator: Becca Stadtlander is an illustrator and fine artist. In 2019, she won the Golden Kite Award for Picture Book Illustration for Made by Hand: A Crafts Sampler. Picture books she has illustrated include Mr. McCloskey’s Marvelous Mallards, Sleep Tight, Farm, and On Wings of Words, which received four starred reviews. Her work is also featured in adult books, editorial publications, stationery, home decor products, and book covers.
Instagram @becca_stadtlander | Facebook Becca Stadtlander
Review: Melissa Stewart shared on her webpage that, “As I was writing the book Mega-Predators of the Past, I was astonished to learn about Archelon — a prehistoric sea turtle the size of a small car. But what was even more amazing than the turtle’s supersize is where it lived — smack dab in the middle of the North American continent. Up until that moment, I’d never heard of the Western Interior Seaway, and I had no idea that the land we now call the Great Plains had once been covered by an ancient ocean. I had to know more, and once I discovered the incredible cast of creatures that called the seaway home (including a dozen different kinds of sharks), I knew I had to write a book about how the seaway formed and how it changed over time.” Like her, until I read this book, I had no idea either!
Stewart and Stadtlander do a great job bringing this unimaginable setting to life so that readers can see how what seems impossible is possible. It is a great mix of informational nonfiction, sharing of information about the Earth’s and animals’ history, while also adding in a bit of narrative by engaging with the reader through story. I also loved the inclusion of sidebars throughout the book which told you more about each animal that was encountered without messing with the flow of the writing. And, as always, I am so happy to see age appropriate, informative back matter that shows more information to fill in some gaps while also keeping learners wanting to find out more.
Educators’ Tools for Navigation and Discussion Questions: This book wonderfully combines reading, science, history, and kids’ love of prehistoric animals to create an engaging book that would be perfect for classrooms!
Melissa Stewart created a Read Aloud Guide, including a classroom extension activity and before & after reading questions! Here are some examples of questions she included:
- (Before reading) Do you think this book is fiction or nonfiction? Why?
- (Before reading; looking at a map of the United States) Do you think sharks could live that far from the ocean?
- (After reading) How many sharks are shown in the book? Did they all live at the same time?
- (After reading) At the end of the book, a child finds a shark tooth fossil. Did you see the same child
earlier in the book? If so, what were they doing.
Also, there is a fun coloring sheet on her site, too!
Flagged Spreads:
Read This If You Love: Prehistoric animals, Dinosaurs, Geology
Recommended For:
**Thank you to Blue Sky Media and Random House for providing a book for review!**
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