How Deep Is the Ocean?

June 1, 2016
A straightforward dive into the watery abyss, with passing views of some select exotic residents.Starting at the tide line, Zoehfeld squires two young explorers--light-skinned, in Puybaret's steadily darkening paintings (though an initial crowd of beach visitors shows more color range)--into the deep. They go from ankle-deep waters to scuba territory and then in a submersible on down to the Hadal Zone's pitch-black depths. Along with helpful signposts ("YOU HAVE REACHED THE TWILIGHT ZONE") and a digestible quantity of identifying labels, budding naturalists will find matter-of-fact descriptions of characteristic creatures at each level, with special focus on the adaptations that allow them to survive. Highlights (lowlights?) include close-ups of giant tube worms clustered around a hydrothermal vent and a dramatic encounter between a giant squid and a sperm whale. A pair of low-effort science activities and a glimpse at how ocean depths have been measured round out the expedition. Readers will surface with not only a better understanding of the diversity of ocean life, but a firmer grasp of how little we really know about vasty deeps that have seen fewer human visitors than has space.A watertight addition to the venerable Let's Read and Find Out collection. (websites) (Informational picture book. 6-9)

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July 1, 2016

K-Gr 3-This informative and richly illustrated volume brings to life the awe-inspiring vastness of the oceans. Readers follow a boy and girl as they venture from the shore's edge into the sea's sunlight zone (using scuba gear) to learn about phytoplankton and photosynthesis. The pair descend via a submersible into the twilight, the midnight, the abyssal, and, finally, the seldom-seen Hadal zone inside the Mariana Trench (nearly seven miles deep). At each level, the text describes how the children feel (the water pressure increasing as they scuba dive down to 100 feet) and what they see (meticulously labeled specimens, such as the sperm whale, the pink vent eelpout, the strawberry squid, and the tripod fish). Puybaret's illustrations, painted in vivid acrylics, are superbly detailed and visually intriguing. The artwork is so precise that detail-oriented viewers won't miss photographs. Math lovers will appreciate the mention of sizes and depths interspersed throughout the text. An ocean depth chart, graphs, suggested experiments, and a list of Internet resources for further study address multiple learning styles while facilitating expanded exploration of the topic. Kids will build vocabulary with terms such as bioluminescence, hydrothermal vents, and chemosynthesis. VERDICT This selection does not sacrifice appeal for information; a good addition for all science collections.-Suzanne LaPierre, Fairfax County Public Library, VA

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Starred review from September 15, 2016
Preschool-G *Starred Review* The informative books in the Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science series offer clearly written, attractive introductions to scientific topics, presented with a young audience in mind. How Deep Is the Ocean? asks children to imagine themselves in a submersible vessel, exploring layers of the ocean at increasing depth and observing the creatures living in these varied environments. Designated Level 2 in the series, the book presents information in a paragraph or two on each page, illustrated with handsome acrylic paintings that include magnified phytoplankton as well as many labeled underwater scenes. An appended science activity uses a knotted, weighted string to measure the depth of water. Created with digitally enhanced traditional media, principally watercolors, the artwork has an appealing, kid-friendly look. Well designed, engaging, and highly recommended for children's science collections.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)