Frances Dipper

This children's book is very information-dense, making it difficult to read at times. However, most of its information is fascinating, drawing the reader into a world unknown. Discussing everything from recent explorations to ancient oceanic mythology, this book is a great addition to any library. In a classroom, it might be best used for its graphic organizers or individual chapters.

Mysteries of the Ocean Deep is a good informational book. The book is written in an interesting tone, that I think is good for middle-school aged children. It begins with the early exploration of oceans dating back to the Roman times, and touches on gods of the sea, mermaids, etc. The book is more of a timeline of ocean study in my opinion. It has a lot of text per page with multiple text boxes and diagrams and it can be a bit overwhelming to the eye. The book gets a little eerie, especially show more for younger audiences, when it discusses the "Deepest Depths" of the ocean and the creatures that hunt at that level. I would not use this book with my Kindergarten students, but it is fascinating and provides good information for mature readers. The book definitely appeals to some audiences. show less

Mysteries of the Ocean Deep attempts to explore the power and mystery of our oceans, using modern science, myths and legends, and recent discovers. The book is divided into five main substantive sections: The Mysterious Waters, an historical recounting of various myths and mysteries such as mermaids and lost islands; The Lure of the Oceans, covering ocean exploration; The Deepest Depths, describes oceanic geography; Treasures of the Deep, discusses shipwrecks and deep water exploration; and show more The Future of the Oceans, a prospective look at ocean inhabitation and unsolved mysteries. It is apparent that the author did not intend this book to be dispositive treatise on any of the numerous subjects covered, but instead sought to peak interest in the oceans by scratching the surface on a broad spectrum of topics. While the book does an effective job of covering the highlights of the main subject matters, I found it to lack sufficient detail so as to spur a reader into further inquiry into any one subject. Also, the topics lacked a cohesiveness that is probably necessary for middle schoolers - transitioning from sea monsters to geography. Moreover, the format of the book was distracting - almost sensory overload. The black pages were centered with a large circular collage of different artwork and pictures, with substantive content surrounding the circle. Many of the substantive discussions were laden with little photos, sketches or cartoony looking pictures. Therefore, I am giving this one only 2 1/2 stars. It is a fascinating subject matter, but I think the author tried to do too much with too little. show less

Title: The New Book of Treasures Under the Sea
Author: Dr. Frances Dipper
Summary:
This book takes you under the sea through some of the mysteries of the world, showing sunken ships and animals that lurk the depths of the sea.
Personal Reaction:
I found this book to be very interesting. I am actually scared of the ocean, so this gave me a greater understanding of what it is made of and that it is actually a beautiful place. (I still do not plan on jumping in anytime soon.)
Extensions:
1) The show more students will have a Science lesson on the ocean along with the animals that make up the ocean.
2) The students will have a History lesson on some of the many ship wrecks that have taken place, such as the Titanic.
3) The students will have a geography lesson over the different parts of the ocean: ie, Pacific, Atlantic, etc. show less