This website has been selected for inclusion in the American Library Association’s Great Web Sites for Kids, 2008.

AWARDS:

SURVIVAL SECRETS OF SEA ANIMALS:
nominated for 2007 Animal Behavior Society Outstanding Children’s Book

REVIEWS:

Reviews of the Undersea Encounters Series:

Undersea Encounters, series of 10 age-appropriate books about the underwater world, teaches through motivation and delight. The young elementary school reader (grades 2-4) will be grabbed "hook, line, and sinker" by the colorful cover photograph on each book. Inside, the text and an abundance of pictures support readers with features like bolded vocabulary defined in the glossary. There is a section of additional resources, which includes lists of books and websites, and an index with both text and picture pages.
— National Science Teachers Association—Recommended Books

This great Scholastic series of marine-life books is officially for kids ages 8 to 11, but younger kids can easily follow along with Hall’s close-up photos and the easy-to-understand text. Each of the 10 books focuses on a subset of marine biology from crabs to dolphins to sea partners to predators of the sea. Even adults will learn some facts about underwater critters they didn’t know before. Every book lists more resources to learn more about the marine life profiled…
— Undercurrent Magazine, December 2008

Reviews of Individual Titles in the Series:

Partners in the Sea

“In this nicely designed volume in the Undersea Encounters series, the authors introduce marine symbiosis, explaining mutualism and commensal partnerships as well as parasitism, providing numerous examples to clarify the concepts. Though most of the examples describe invertebrates such as sponges, sea anemones, sea urchins, and jellyfish, the authors also reference vertebrates, such as clownfish and cleaner fish. Remarkable full-color photos dominate every page. Crisp-edged and well lit, they offer amazing detail and greatly enhance the text. The use of large print and captions in colored type, which affords greater contrast against dark photographic backgrounds, makes the whole pleasing to the eye and appealing to younger readers. A glossary and a bibliography round out the book, which will be a popular choice for both browsers and report writers.”
— Booklist, American Library Association

“….intriguing introduction to various "undersea partnerships," … presents a look at varieties of symbiosis, ranging from "partners" helping each other to parasitism and predation…Each book in this series may spark a deeper interest in marine science in its young readers.”
—National Science Teachers Association Recommended Book

Seahorses and Sea Dragons

“The mysteries of these creatures are revealed through the informative text and detailed photographs in this book. In a few short chapters readers will learn fascinating facts about these unique sea animals. The information is clearly arranged and easy to read. At the bottom of some pages are additional Fish Facts, which are interesting pieces of information. Colorful, detailed photographs enhance the text.” Recommended
— Library Media Connection

Filled with terrific photos, this book offers a good overview of these interesting  creatures in a text that is accessible to many third grade readers.  This is part of a small Undersea Encounters series all done by the same team. 
— New Jersey Library Association, "Just the Facts: Nonfiction Trade Books for the Curriculum"—Recommended book.

“…will fascinate students as they explore life cycles and adaptations. Seahorses and Sea Dragons looks at this large and diverse group of fish and discusses their distribution, locomotion, anatomy, and human-caused threats to their survival.”
— National Science Teachers Association Recommended Book

Octopuses and Squids

“Octopuses and Squids gives a brief but lively overview of the whole cephalopod class, organized not by species but by descriptions of intelligence, defense and escape, food getting, and reproduction. Amazingly, these varied and intelligent invertebrates are distantly related to clams and snails!...This little book is part of the Undersea Encounters series from Scholastic. Each of these 48-page books is rich with captioned photographs---most of them by one of the authors. The text briefly introduces the creatures of the sea in clear, graceful writing. Each book in the series uses a different consultant, a specialist in the book's topic.”
— National Science Teachers Association Recommended Book

Life in a Kelp Forest

“Amazing, outlandish, and often brightly colored creatures lurk underwater in the gloom of the kelp forest, taking advantage of energy provided in nutrient-rich water by the giant seaweeds of the Pacific Northwest. The authors briefly but vividly describe the flow of energy through this aquatic ecosystem with fabulous images and clear, graceful writing. The pages are crammed with information about kelp and the many marine species (mostly mollusks and echinoderms, but also including fish) closely associated with kelp forests.”
— National Science Teachers Association—Recommended Book

Sea Turtles

“This engaging introduction to the group, aimed at grades four and above, presents basic facts with brief details relating to the different species, along with information about the major threats to their survival. There are details on unique elements of anatomy and behavior. The final chapter explores threats to sea turtle populations and shows scientists in their efforts to investigate their lives and how best to conserve them...

“The book ends with a useful glossary and index, as well as an extensive list of books, magazine articles, and websites for further exploration. Conservation organizations are listed for readers who wish to assist in supporting their work. Teachers will find this series a rich resource for use in curriculum units on marine organisms and environments. Students can use individual books to look up information for their own reports.”
— National Science Teachers Association—Recommended Book

My favorite book is Sea Turtles by Mary Jo Rhodes and David Hall. Did you know that sea turtles go back to the same beach they were born on? Sea turtles can live for more than a hundred years. Read this book to find out more about sea turtles.
— Javin Goodine, Age 8, North Carolina, from “What Are Your Favorite Books?” Highlights for Children, March 2009

Crabs

This is a fascinating book on the life of different sea crabs.  With the photograper's help, the author explores twenty or more varieties of crabs. He gives the basic parts of a crab and uses proper scientific terms. Captions are found with each picture and give good descriptions of the animal. The author talks about the habitats and their methods of survival. This book has enough facts in its 48 pages to make it a good research text. Contains a two-page glossary, websites, books, and index. The photos are stunningly beautiful. Rating: Recommended+
— South Sound Book Review Council (SSBRC)--Washington State

Predators of the Sea

Predators of the Sea concentrates on invertebrates and their adaptations, such as powerful claws, a deadly hug, poison, camouflage, and mimicry. There is a chapter dedicated to the most dangerous predator---the human. Hopefully, this will promote children's ability to understand how we can create healthy balances in order to preserve not to destroy.
— National Science Teachers Association—Recommended Books

This trade book provides great descriptions of the predatory behavior of several species. Everything is covered from the brute strength of starfish to the cleverness of scorpion fish, this book introduces young readers to the variety of tactics different sea animals use to catch dinner. The book is filled with excellent color photos that are sure to engage students. Plus, the book is very easy to read. [Predators of the Sea and Survival Secrets of Sea Animals] are a great way to introduce the ecological concept of predator-prey dynamics to students in intermediate grades (3-5)…Students can compare and contrast the adaptations and behavioral tactics of these sea "foes".
— Urban Science Adventures! ©  An Urban Ecology & Education Reference for Young Peopl, April 2, 2008 [science educator blog]

This fascinating book is crammed with excellent photographs of a wide variety of undersea predators. The book begins with the definition of a predator – an animal that hunts and eats other animals. It then goes on to describe how predators, both large and small hunt or catch their prey. Many animals move through the water quite swiftly when on the attack. Some slower moving animals graze on corals or on many bottom-dwelling animals.  Some of the larger animals swallow great quantities of water and strain out the smaller fish and tiny crustaceans. Although many invertebrates have shells for protection, other animals come equipped to overcome the barrier. Strong claws, tube feet, and sharp tongues (radulas) can break down those defenses. Some small animals use poison to overcome larger animals. Other animals are quite adept at camouflaging themselves to resemble their environment. This includes those that mimic other animals in order to get close to prey. Still others lie in wait and use a lure to entice fish to come closer. This outstanding book concludes with an epilogue warning of the most dangerous predator – man.  People need to take care to provide a balance between predator and prey to insure the quality the earth’s animals need to survive. An excellent glossary provides the definition, pronunciation, and page on which the term is used. The index lists each animal discussed and the page number on which to find it.  For further information, there is a bibliography of four books and three web sites.  Mary Jo Rhodes and David Hall are well known in their fields and they also enlisted the aid of two expert consultants, knowledgeable of fish and marine invertebrates. Rating: Recommended+
— South Sound Book Review Council (SSBRC) — Washington State

Survival Secrets of Sea Animals

In Survival Secrets of Sea Animals, you will read about the many ingenious ways animals find a safe home, the creative ways animals protect themselves, the behavioral adaptation of schooling, and the visual adaptations of confusing. Copycats and mimics use all available resources to survive, some of which are shocking. There are secrets that you can’t even imagine and some are so weird and beautiful that they enter the realm of imagination (not fantasy, but reality).
— National Science Teachers Association—Recommended Books

…As a companion to Predators of the Sea, [Survivor Secrets of Sea Animals] explains all of the ways different sea animals avoid and wriggle their way out the clutches of the most clever sea predators. The photos are excellent and the text is engaging. I highly recommend this book for young readers and environmental educators, too.

This book is a great way to introduce the ecological concept of predator-prey dynamics to students in intermediate grades (3-5). It's a perfect way to get students to apply and evaluate what they comprehend, comparing and contrasting the adaptations and behavioral tactics of these sea "foes." The Student Reviewers of Clay Elementary School really enjoyed the up-close and detailed pictures of the animals. The colors and adaptive weapons and tactics of the sea animals were very interesting to them. They found the book very easy to read and understand…that's always a good thing to hear.
— Danielle N. Lee, University of Missouri, St. Louis, for Animal Behavior Society Newsletter, vol. 53, no. 4

Because every animal in the ocean is hunted by another, being able to find a safe place to live is essential.  David Hall’s superb photos show how many undersea animals protect themselves.  Colorful photographs are well paced on each page.  Large sized text contains many interesting facts. Colored text in captions and section headings add to the overall pleasing appearance of each page. Rating: Recommended.
— South Sound Book Review Council (SSBRC) — Washington State

Life on a Coral Reef

Life on a Coral Reef describes an entire ecosystem that shelters thousands of organisms, protects coastlines, and provides food for people. The skeletons of the coral animals are the most beautiful homes in the world; millions of designers cooperate. Day or night, coral reefs communities never sleep, and today their survival is threatened by pollution and global warming.
— National Science Teachers Association—Recommended Books

Dolphins, Seal, and Other Sea Mammals

Dolphins, Seals, and Other Sea Mammals helps the reader to view these animals as more than just another mammal. From their early evolution on land to their return to the sea, dolphins and other pinnipeds have survived in some of the harshest environments, yet still have managed to have fun. Their probing and sorrowful looking eyes, graceful antics, and intelligent brains endear them to children and adults alike. Because these creatures are our closest relatives in the ocean, humans have a special bond with these creatures; some even take vacations in order to swim with them!
— National Science Teachers Association—Recommended Books