Reading Level: Grade 3 Interest Level: Grades 2 – 5
Colorful peacocks pack a punch, frilly sharks flatten themselves against the sand, and leafy dragons blend in with the underwater forest. The ocean is filled with underwater oddities. Explore some of the most interesting, peculiar, and downright bizarre life below the waves. Then, learn about the incredible scientists studying these wonderful underwater oddballs. Let’s dive in!
High-interest organisms that lean into the strange and unusual are the draw here. Photographs of well-known deep-sea creatures are included alongside lesser-known organisms like the sailor’s eyeball algae. The term underwater is often connected to deep sea, but in these titles readers encounter mangrove forests and other not-so-deep places. Chapters are relatively short and look at how the species in focus are interconnected in their respective ecosystems. Oddities is in the name, but there is a seriousness in the text that balances out the sometimes wacky images. VERDICT: These titles will appeal to readers who are interested in the weird and sometimes gross parts of science.
