HOW DEEP IS THE OCEAN?

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)