Reviews
It's Day Four of Science Book Week and our spotlight is on Glass Squid and Other Spectacular Squid (Creatures of the Deep) by Casey Rand. Do you know the differences between an octopus and a squid? What is a colossal squid? How do squid survive in the extreme pressures of the deep ocean? This book contains the answers to all these questions and many more, such as where squid live, what they eat and what eats them. In addition to brilliant color photographs of underwater creatures, the book also has illustrations to clarify key concepts. One illustration shows the zones of the ocean. Another shows the size of a sperm whale and different species of squid compared to a semi-trailer truck. If you aren't sure how interesting squid can be, take a look at this video (particularly good for relaxing on a stressful day). Notice the fins on the sides of their bodies. The presence of a fin is one way to tell a squid from an octopus. Glass Squid and Other Spectacular Squid is a wonderful nonfiction picture book for learning more about squid, curious creatures from deep in the water that we know very little about. Growing with Science Blog, The species mentioned in these books receive mixed treatment; some are covered in a few pages, others dominate nearly half the book. The remainder of the texts consists of background information and spreads highlighting related species, including some unusual ones not often found in titles for young readers. Most volumes include a diagram of ocean depth zones and each explains how scientists research sea creatures and also details threats to the Earth's oceans, including overfishing, global warming, and the 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. The layout features a few paragraphs per spread, accompanied by text boxes and color photos; unfortunately, the captions sometimes repeat information found in the narrative. One other quibble: Giant Isopods states that these animals have the largest eggs of any marine invertebrate but neglects to mention how big they are. Jackie Partch, Multnomah County Library, Portland, ORSchool Library Journal/Series Made SimpleNovember 2011, This informative and colorful series will engage younger children to learn more about the sea and its creatures. It covers natural history, adaptations, human interaction, and conservation efforts. Vivid illustrations with charts, graphs, and fact boxes draw attention to the text. Questions are highlighted and answered. Each book supports curriculum standards and contains a bibliography and websites to find out more. The eye-popping photos on blue covers will attract browsers. Glossary. Index. Barbara Jo McKee, Educational Reviewer, Stow, Ohio Recommended Library Media Connection May/June 2012
