SHARKS IN KANSAS: THE ANCIENT SEA IN THE MIDDLE OF AMERICA, by Melissa Stewart and Becca Stadtlander, Random House Studio, July 7, 2026, Hardcover, $19.99 (ages 4-8)
Travel back 85 million years to a time when vast waters spanned our continent in Sharks in Kansas: The Ancient Sea in the Middle of America, by Melissa Stewart and Becca Stadtlander.
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 submerged in water–and incredible creatures roamed the sea. On a typical afternoon, a small herd of Claosaurus munches on plants along the shoreline. Above them, a Pteranodon glides across the sky in search of fish… when, suddenly, a Squalicorax grabs a young dinosaur with its bone-crunching bite. Chomp!
From the flightless bird Hesperonis to the mighty Tylosaurus, here is a fascinating look at many kids’ favorite creatures and the mysteries of an ancient ocean. —Synopsis provided by Random House Studio
Sharks in Kansas is a fascinating nonfiction read that will surprise and excite readers as they learn about the Western Interior Seaway.
It’s safe to say that almost everyone knows about dinosaurs and extinction, but most of us know little about the ocean that once split America in two.
Author Melissa Stewart brings this topic to the forefront with an engaging narrative that’s both informative and interesting. And artist Becca Stadtlander brings this time period to life with bold gouache illustrations.
The inclusion of side panels that detail ancient seaway animals is an added bonus. Pronunciation guides, as well as basic information on height, weight and diet, help readers understand scale. And strong backmatter explains how the seaway was formed and disappeared.
Sharks in Kansas is one of those books that will grab readers’ attention from the start and hold it until the end.
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