Smart Shark

Smart Shark (Volume 3) sets up three 'rude' things that Dinosaur asks Silly Shark or Smart Shark to do, if they want to be Dinosaur's friend - "push a kid", "pull down your pants", "say a rude word". Silly Shark is tricked and does the silly thing. Smart Shark has the right answer - "A friend does not say that". Smart Shark was written for a boy who had difficulties understand inferred messages. He was a target for teasing and was easily talked into doing naughty things at school. He needed to understand when a friend is not a friend, what to say to a false friend and how to be smart with friends. His fantasy of being a shark that would outwit his tormentors gave the characters of Smart Shark and Silly Shark. The goal was to give him a formula to respond to children who wanted him to do silly things if he was to be a friend. Thus, Silly Shark and Smart Shark give him the social phrases he needs to see/understand the social interaction. Smart Shark's dialogue is a script for him use later. The illustrations give the action and the thinking. The same syntax is used for all three 'rude' temptations Smart Shark, "pull down your pants and I will be your friend" and responses "I tricked you . You are silly" / "I can't trick you / you are smart". Syntax ranges up to LARSP Stage V but repeats the same structures.