Our family has always loved lap books and reading time with mom or dad during those preschool years. However, what we encountered with Is a Shark a Fish? by Innovative Kids blew our minds.

This hardback book has wonderful eye appeal. It combines fun cartoon-like characters and backdrops with 35 real photos of animals. Is a Shark a Fish? is about undersea creatures, with the shark being the center of attention. Exploring the concept of what it means to truly be a fish and investigating whether different sea creatures meet this definition are the theme of this book.

The science terminology does not stop with defining a fish. The author is very specific in naming the animals by their true names and classification. What is underwater, swims really fast, but has feathers and wings? If you guessed the penguin, you are right. Did you also know that it is really a bird? What about our friend the sea turtle? He has lungs and can hold his breath for hours. But he isn't a fish--he has no gills.

Is this too much formal science for preschoolers? At first I thought so. However, just ask our four-year-old, and he will have a very different opinion. When his older brother isn't looking through the book, he will be very glad to teach you all about the different parts of a fish as shown on the inside back cover of the book.

The Little Pirate books by Innovative Kids are wonderful scientifically sound books for your preschooler that will set them ahead of the class.

Product review by Dawn Oaks, The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine, LLC, January 2009