Diary of a Marine Biologist

Gr 2-5–While many children have a fascination with the ocean, marine biologists are the ones that get to turn that fascination into a job. What exactly do they do? In this book, readers get to deep dive into the week of a marine biologist named Emma as she surveys whales, takes care of a manmade oyster reef, identifies sea snakes, and ends the week surfing with her friend Jessica. The artwork is bright and fun as vivid illustrations bring the diary format to life, from a calendar mapping out each day, complete with taped notes and a checklist, to the detailed diagrams and drawings of ocean life. With each day’s activity, Emma explains not only what she is doing, but gives background knowledge about that particular aspect of ocean life. For example, with the day of whale surveying, she also explains different types of whales, whale facts, and mating habits. Emma also gives commentary on the impact of her work and how it is at the heart of conservation of the ocean. The back matter includes a paragraph about next steps for readers wanting to join this profession, as well as an extensive glossary of terms that were bolded throughout the book.