We Adopted a Shark

By Jennifer Polete Bertram and Jason Polete

We Adopted a Shark is a laughable tale about a boy who learns to accept his new adopted brother who acts more like a shark than a human. Managing his feelings about his new brother, the narrarator learns to embrace the differences that each member brings to a family. With illustrations that highlight our perceptions over reality, We Adopted a Shark recognizes the beauty and struggle in growing a family.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Aug 30, 2023
• ISBN: 9798385004256

Jennifer Polete Bertram

Author Jennifer Bertram is a wife, mother of five sons - yes, FIVE sons - a sister, and a daughter. Guided by her faith she loves laughing at the adventures that life brings from the everyday to the fantastical. When she isn’t Mom-ing she might be found hiding with a historical fiction book and Indian food, laughing hysterically at funny videos, or hiking at an awkwardly fast pace. Bertram, who hails from Kentucky is also a pediatric occupational therapist. Her love for words and storytelling began in her childhood, when she would write stories on her dad’s old computer and “publish” them with duck tape and discarded boxes. Her writing continued throughout her school years and beyond as she began her career as a pediatric occupational therapist working with children dealing with sensory integration disorder. She never lost her passion for stories and in fact, one may say it only deepened as Bertram used her knack for storytelling to help her young patients and their families successfully navigate big feelings and life experiences. Her first book Little Lion’s Big Move was published in 2022. Jennifer lives in central Pennsylvania with her husband Nick, their five sons, and a rescue dog named Coco. About the Illustrator: Jason Polete has had a love for drawing since he was in “special art” in elementary school. While he has continued to carry that love of art with him, he later also fell in love with computer programming and the web. He currently works as a web developer for a nationally recognized education-workforce-economic development partnership. In his spare time Jason loves to read, bike, hike, and hear live music. He’s most recently begun work developing a video game with his son, a pursuit through which he can indulge his love for illustration, programming, and spending time with his family. Jason lives with his beautiful wife and two sons in southern Indiana.

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