Down Down Down

Down Down Down

Jenkins, S. (2009). Down, Down, Down: A Journey to the Bottom of the Sea. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. ISBN 978.618966363

Half the earth’s surface is covered by water more than a mile deep, but most of this watery world is a mystery to us. In fact, more people have stood on the surface of the moon than have visited the deepest spot in the ocean. Come along as we travel down, down, down, from the surface to the bottom of the sea. Along the way you can see jellyfish that flash like a neon sign, creatures with teeth so big they can’t close their mouths, and even a squid as long as a bus, which battles to the death with a sperm whale, the largest predator on earth. (Amazon Reviews)

With each turn of the page, Jenkins goes deeper into the increasing cold waters of the ocean. Labeled illustrations showcase sea-dwellers from the surface waters all the way to the deepest spot in the ocean at 35,838 feet. The author writes a brief descriptive summary of each ocean zone that is informative and interesting. The illustrations, combined with Jenkins’ documentary language, make for a non-fiction text that reads like a character-driven story.

Book Reviews:

"In this plunge into the deep, Jenkins displays his usual keen awareness of what is fascinating about biology and imparts it without sensationalism—the facts speak for themselves . . Sophisticated cut- and torn-paper collage-work fit the alien qualities of the subjects well; it’s equally at home capturing the tiered needlepoints of lizardfish teeth as it is delivering an impressive and illuminating display of bioluminescence."--Booklist

“Browsers will be delighted by the variety of species, shown in their appropriate colors although not to scale. Backmatter provides some information about the animals pictured, including sizes compared to a human body or hand, although the bibliography does not seem to include the sources used for those facts. Once again, Jenkins provides an almost irresistible entry into our natural world for the youngest readers.”--Kirkus Reviews

Connections:

- A science teacher could use this as a study enhancement for learning about oceans and marine life.
- Students could create artworks representing yet-undiscovered creatures of the deep.

Awards:

Notable Children’s Books, 2010

This review was created as an assignment for SHSU LSSL 5360.