Oceans
Trevor Day
Paperback
(Marshall Editions, Oct. 27, 2000)
Organized as a series, these "Popular Science/Datafiles" are spiral-bound tabbed folders, that provide easy access to whatever a person wants to know about a subject in an interesting, fact-filled and informative way. The subject of this one is the ocean. A "Jobfile" section gives fresh insight into careers such as submariner, marine biologist, marine archeologist and lifeguard using Q & A interviews with hypothetical people, which sound like composites based on actual interviews. The detail is fascinating, such as the fact that submariners have difficulty focusing on distance after a month undersea where the focus is close-up. Other sections provide essential information about ocean tides and functions, climate, life, new and future developments; FAQs that use diagrams and photos to explain the causes of red tides, why the sea is salty, the difference between an AUV, an ROV and a submersible; and a "Factfile" section that includes timelines of surface and underwater exploration. A wonderful book for anyone interested in ocean study and a lively, interesting resource for report writers from upper elementary grades through middle school.