First Big Book of the Ocean

PreS-Gr 3—This introduction to representative marine species is arranged by the Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, and Arctic Oceans. A fact box for each animal briefly describes its home, size, and food; the sounds it makes; and how many babies it has each year. The vocabulary contains different reading levels, ranging from "phytoplankton," "zooplankton," and "crustaceans" to "pod," "kelp," and "prey." The animals' sizes are never expressed numerically, but only as interesting comparisons, such as "long as a man's foot" (coral) or "about as long as a Chihuahua, a little dog" (Atlantic puffin). Close-up, full-color photographs illustrate each species, and childlike curvy arrows point out important features—a fin (of a great white shark), baby beluga in the Arctic Ocean, and "cleaner station" for manta rays in the Indian Ocean. The narrative includes a summary of "10 Cool Things To Remember About The Ocean!" (#5 "Everything that lives on Earth including you, depends on THE OCEAN"); two pages of parent tips (crafts and activities to reinforce the leaning process); and a map that lists the animals described in each region. This colorful text will be fun and interesting for browsers and casual learners alike.—Frances E. Millhouser, formerly at Fairfax County Public Library, VA