Skip to main content

Giant Squid: Searching for a Sea Monster

By


Giant Squid:  Searching for a Sea Monster
by Mary M. Cerullo and Clyde F. E. Roper
Capstone, 2012.  48 pgs.  Nonfiction.

     A lot of what we know about giant squid has come from cutting open dead whales. Giant squid live so deep in the ocean that for a long time all that was known about them was from seafaring legends, squid bodies washed up on beaches,  and the remains of  the squids themselves (particularly their beaks) found in whales' stomachs. Clyde Roper, co-author of this book, is a research zoologist a the Smithsonian institution specializing in large mollusks. From him we learn that giant squid have the largest eyeballs (the size of car headlights) of any animal on earth, and that giant squid are not good to eat. Tsunemi Kubodera, a Japanese researcher, was the first to photograph a giant squid alive in the deep ocean; his pictures were released in 2005 and some are shown in this book. Pictures and text in Giant Squid . . . combine to give youngsters a fascinating look at deep sea life, and of one of the most amazing "sea monsters" of all.

Labels:

Comments

curlyq said…
I think giant squids are completely fascinating! I was immediately captivated the first time I saw a special about them. This book looks great and I'll be sure to check it out--thanks for the great review!
March 11, 2013 at 6:25 PM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Review: Faker

By
Faker By Gordon Korman New York: Scholastic Press, 2024. Fiction. 214 pages. 12-year-old Trey is used to starting over at a new school -- he has the routine perfectly memorized: make new friends, introduce his dad to the wealthy parents of his new friends, and "Houdini" themselves out of there before they get caught running their latest scam. Trey's dad is a master con artist, and Trey has just been promoted to full-partner. Their new scheme for the next big score brings them to the affluent suburb of Boxelder, TN where Trey's dad has cooked up a fake electric car company for investors to buy into. The only problem is that Trey is starting to grow tired of moving around and never putting down roots, especially after forming a fast friendship with Logan and developing a crush on Kaylee, a socially conscious girl in his class. As Trey longs for a normal life, is there any way he can convince his dad to get out of the family business? Gordon Korman is a perennial favorit
Post a Comment
Read more

Review: Life After Whale

By
  Life After Whale Written by Lynn Brunelle Illustrated by Jason Chin New York: Holiday House, 2024. Informational.  Have you ever wondered what happens after a whale dies? In this beautiful book, you'll discover what happens for years after a whale's death. The book begins by introducing the blue whale and talking a little about its life. It moves quickly on to a whale's death, where his body first falls to the very bottom of the ocean floor. You'll meet the scavengers, first big then smaller as the years progress that eat the whale's decomposing body until finally it is used as a food source for krill which are then eaten by blue whales.  In addition to being an excellent resource to discussing the animal circle of life, this book is a work of art. Jason Chin's watercolor and gauche illustrations will have readers dissecting every detail and flipping through for a further look. Kids who love animal facts will be absolutely enthralled by this tale.   
Post a Comment
Read more

Review: Umami

By
  Umami By Jacob Grant New York: Viking, an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC, 2024. Picture Book. Umami is a little penguin who is sick of eating the same thing everyday, cold fish --ugh! She becomes determined to find new foods and flavors, so Umami begins a journey across the sea in search of something different to eat. She reaches a place with a plethora of delicious options, and tries bitter, sweet, sour, and foods with umami (just like her name!) among others. Umami decides to bring all these delicious new flavors back for the other penguins to try in a feast. But, will the other penguins enjoy this new experience?  Filled with charm and humor, Umami is a diverse romp through a universal experience --am I willing to try something new? What will it be like? The idea of trying new foods and flavors make it especially relatable, and the appealing illustrations will have many readers ready to hop out on a culinary adventure. A humorous and sweet ending, caps off this delightful tal
Post a Comment
Read more