by
Paula Ruth Jones
In this buoyant sequel, Jones returns to Miami Beach’s coral reef to follow reformed tough-guy Mark, a young bull shark who once learned the hard way that bullying bites back. Now celebrated for his newfound kindness, Mark believes he has left his old habits in his wake—until a dazzling newcomer, Ollie the octopus, drifts into town. Ollie’s chameleon-like color shows and easy popularity stir an emotion Mark can’t quite name, and the shark’s insecurity soon ripples through the reef. A bout of teasing nudges the plot into deeper waters, setting up a test of character that will determine whether Mark’s first epiphany was a passing wave or a tide-turning change.
Jones structures the story with an intuitive rise-and-fall arc that feels satisfyingly cinematic. The early pages pulse with warm-weather fun—surfing swells, glittering scales, and school-yard banter beneath the sea—before the narrative dips into a darker trench of hurt feelings. The author wisely stops short of melodrama, keeping prose lean and rhythmic (“Mark felt a strange feeling growing inside him—it was jealousy”) so new readers can track complex emotions without losing the buoyant flow.
The illustrations are irresistible. Full-bleed spreads burst with sherbet corals, sun-bleached sands, and kaleidoscopic fish that appear to swirl right off the page. Facial expressions—no small feat for marine life—are rendered with Pixar-level clarity: Ollie’s shy tentacle curl, Myrtle the turtle’s gentle concern, and Mark’s sheepish grin telegraph feelings a pre-reader can decode at a glance. These visual cues double as social-emotional teaching tools, inviting discussion about jealousy, remorse, and the bravery it takes to make amends.
Jones’s chief accomplishment lies in illustrating that personal growth is rarely a one-and-done revelation; slip-ups happen, and second chances matter. Her message is unmistakable yet never moralistic. When Myrtle calmly asks Mark, “Have you even spoken with him?” the book models conflict-resolution language that teachers and parents will appreciate. The final pages point forward to future adventures, hinting that kindness, like swimming, requires practice—an encouraging takeaway for children navigating playground dynamics.
Designed for ages 1–8, the text’s generous leading and succinct sentences make it an inviting read-aloud, while emergent readers can tackle the vocabulary with confidence. Educators will find natural tie-ins to anti-bullying curricula, empathy lessons, and marine-science units. Families who enjoyed the original Mark the Bully Shark will relish revisiting Jones’s sun-dappled reef, but newcomers can dive in without prior knowledge, thanks to the book’s tidy recap of the shark’s first transformation.
Bright, big-hearted, and brimming with teachable moments, Mark the Bully Shark 2 earns its place alongside classroom staples like The Recess Queen and Chrysanthemum. It’s a splashy reminder that kindness is an ocean—vast, forgiving, and open to everyone willing to swim a little deeper.
– The Moving Words Review
Official Entry: The Most Moving Book Award, Jan. 6, 2026
