From School Library Journal
Grade 3-5-- Excellent introductory titles. Simon presents clear, simplified explanations of natural phenomena with well-chosen full-color photographs that go beyond decoration, becoming integral parts of the texts. Spectacular photos of the deserts of the American southwest are used to show the various features from rippling sand, to wind-eroded rock formations, to the sparse vegetation characteristic of the area. There is a little information on how both plant and animal life have adapted to the harsh climate, and on the wonderful public lands such as Monument Valley, the Grand Canyon, etc. The maps on the endpapers show the major deserts (except for Antarctica), but the rest of the world's desert areas, while occasionally mentioned in the discussion, are not represented in the photo selections. In the second book, Simon explores the magnitude of the oceans and their impact on the Earth's climate. He includes good black-and-white diagrams of how tides work and how waves form and transfer energy. The endpapers are maps of the world showing how and where the major currents flow. --Rosanne Cerny, Queens Borough Public Library, NYCopyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.


"Visually stunning."


"Remarkable."

Book Description

There are over 100 billion gallons of water for each person on earth, nearly all of it churning in waves and currents driven by the sun's energy. Our ocean world is enormous, and its power affects our climate and reshapes the land. From the moon's mysterious power over the tides to deadly waves called tsunami, explore Earth's oceans in this book awash with photographs and fascinating facts.

Card catalog description
Text and photographs explore the physical characteristics, life forms, and fragility of the world's oceans.

About the Author
Seymour Simon is the author of over one hundred science books for children. His many award-winning books include Icebergs and Glaciers, a New York Academy of Sciences Children's Book Award winner, as well as Storms, Volcanoes, Earthquakes, Mountains, and many books about the solar system. Mr. Simon is the recipient of the Washington Post/Children's Book Guild Award for Nonfiction for the body of his work. He lives in Great Neck, New York.

ANNOTATION

Text and photographs explore the physical characteristics, life forms, and fragility of the world's oceans.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

There are over 100 billion gallons of water for each person on earth, nearly all of it churning in waves and currents driven by the sun's energy. Our ocean world is enormous, and its power affects our climate and reshapes the land. From the moon's mysterious power over the tides to deadly waves called tsunami, explore Earth's oceans in this book awash with photographs and fascinating facts.

FROM THE CRITICS

Children's Literature - Marilyn Courtot

Water, water everywhere, and as Simon points out, more than 70 percent of the earth's surface is covered by oceans-one big ocean, and the continents are really islands in this vast body of water. The photographs include some taken from space and computer enhanced to show the terrain under the oceans and ocean currents, such as what happens when El Ni￯﾿ﾽo enters the scene. Illustrations demystify tides and wave action and Simon, a former teacher, makes his explanations quite kid friendly. A good introduction to oceans for kids and their parents. 1997 (orig.

School Library Journal