From School Library Journal
PreSchool-Grade 3Told as the story of one dive, this title begins, A large ship has reached its destination far out to sea. Readers are then taken from the mother ship to a submersible, a small vessel that can measure, videotape, and collect samples, and down on a four-hour trip through three ocean levels. The shades of blue darken page by page as the vessel descends through each zone. The regions are succinctly described and illustrated with labeled drawings of animals representative of each level. The artwork practically tells the story, accompanying the narrative exactly. The crew includes men and women, but the submersible is the star of this book. It is drawn in cross section, showing how it utilizes its many and varied tools to illuminate, film, and/or gather marine samples. Especially effective is the contrast of its vivid yellow light shining against the black background of the ocean. A two-page chronology of significant events in the history of diving is included as is a look into the future. Other intriguing facts may well inspire young readers to learn more about the subject.Frances E. Millhouser, Chantilly Regional Library, VA
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Gr. 3^-5, younger for reading aloud. Children can tag along with oceanographers as they travel 7,500 feet down to the ocean floor in a submersible diving vessel. Equipped with video cameras, life-support systems, mechanical arms, and more, the submersible records and collects samples from each level, or zone, on the journey. As the text describes the characteristics of each zone, Gibbons' familiar watercolor and pen-and-ink illustrations reveal the variety of creatures that live there. The pictures also nicely convey the feeling of sinking ever deeper into the ocean. A final double-page spread provides a helpful time line of the history of diving. The book ends with a selection of ocean trivia, accompanied by small illustrations. A good introduction to the subject for the middle-grader.
Lauren Peterson
