Gr 4-6-Together, these books outline the history of the development of the bathysphere, bathyscaph, and modern submersible. The first one describes the 1930s efforts of William Beebe and Otis Barton with the original bathysphere, including its design, early test, first dive to just over 3000 feet deep; encounters with undersea life; discoveries and observations; and the dangers encountered. Subsequent passages cover later divers such as Cindy Lee Van Dover and Sylvia Earle, as well as the bathyscaph Trieste of Auguste and Jacques Piccard, which dove seven miles down into the Marianas Trench. The second title describes the modern submersible and its exploration of hydrothermal vents and their associated life 8000 feet below the ocean surface. It follows up with information on Alvin's design and interior, black smokers and life around them, Van Dover's path to becoming a deep-sea pilot, and a description of a visit to the bottom of the sea. Also included is a brief history of deep-sea dives, bathyspheres, and bathyscaphs. There is some duplication of subjects in the books. Each volume has a page of statistics and anecdotal facts and both texts are well documented. The glossary and list of additional sources are very brief, but useful. Attractive color photos contribute to the content. These titles are written at an easier level but are more attractive than Richard Gaines's The Explorers of the Undersea World (Chelsea, 1994), which covers a lot of the same information.-Jeffrey A. French, Euclid Public Library, OH Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.