Friday, May 20, 2016

More "Wet & Wild" books

Ocean animals: Who's Who in the Deep Blue?
by Johnna Rizzo
112 pages; ages 8-12
National Geographic Children's Books, 2016

This is a book that you'll want to dive right into - filled with photos of exotic and not-so-exotic ocean life. There are photos of polar bears and pelicans, penguins and puffins. You'll get to know marine iguanas, dolphins and whales, come face to face with octopuses and sharks. You'll be introduced to some hard-core crustaceans and jumbo jellyfish, plus lots of coral reef dwellers.

There's an introduction to the oceans of the world (can you name all five?) and a section about ocean habitats. And there's a handy list of 20 things everyone can do to protect the oceans, from cleaning up a beach to changing how you get around. Bicycling and walking help reduce the amount of car oil and other chemicals that get into waterways and eventually make their way into the oceans.

Learn how scientists and governments are protecting the oceans at the Pristine Seas website.

Jump into Science: Coral Reefs
by Sylvia Earle; illus. by Bonnie Matthews
32 pages; ages 4-8
National Geographic Children's Books, 2016

 "Coral reefs are like rainbow-colored cities," is how this book opens. Strap on your face mask and snorkel, slip on your flippers, and dive in.

Corals may look like colorful plants, but they are animals. Each coral animal looks like a flower growing from a stony pot, but when they lock together they can form branches and brain-like mounds.

This book shows how corals grow and live, and the creatures that live in and among them. There are sponges and mollusks, octopuses and squids, sea stars and fishes. Sometimes visitors come by the reefs: turtles and dolphins may drop by for a quick lunch. Once the sun sets, the reef takes on a nightlife of its own. The book ends with a hands-on activity.

Today's review is part of the STEM Friday roundup. Drop by STEM Friday blog for more science books and resources. Review copies from publisher.

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