Deep End: Animal Life Underwater

A moray eel pokes its head out of an undersea cave just as some brightly colored fish swim by. With lightning speed, the moray grabs one of the fish with its curved, needle-like teeth! Then, in a flash, it disappears into its cave to eat its meal undisturbed. Young readers will explore the underwater world of these strange fish through clear text, full-color photos, and diagrams. Age-appropriate activities, such as matching descriptions of various moray eels to pictures of the fish, give readers a chance to make observations and develop key animal-science skills.

One hundred or so green sea turtle babies scramble as fast as they can toward the sea. They have just hatched from eggs their mother buried on the sandy beach eight weeks earlier. If they make it to the ocean, they have a good chance of growing to be as heavy as 660 pounds (299 kg). There are many predators on the beach, however--and they are hungry for baby turtles! Young readers will explore the underwater world of this marine reptile through clear text, full-color photos, and diagrams. Age-appropriate activities, such as using tape on the floor to show how big green sea turtles can grow, give readers a chance to make observations and to develop animal-science skills.

A California sea lion shoots above the ocean's surface. Suddenly there is another, and then a third one racing through the water. The sea lions are speeding toward one of their favorite places to dive for clams. Then things get scary. A gigantic great white shark bursts out of the water. The sea lions' hunting trip has just turned into a race for their lives! Young readers will explore the underwater world of these beautiful marine mammals through clear text, full-color photos, and diagrams. Age-appropriate activities, such as researching how California sea lions compare to other pinnipeds, give readers a chance to make observations and to develop animal-science skills.

A little monkey was drinking from the river when it saw the water move. Seconds later, the powerful jaws of the largest crocodile on earth, the saltwater crocodile, snapped closed around its little body. As fast as it had appeared from the water, the croc disappeared below the surface with its food. Young readers will explore the underwater world of this powerful reptile through clear text, full-color photos, and diagrams. Age-appropriate activities, such as describing the advantages of ambushing prey, give readers a chance to make observations and develop animal-science skills.

A sea otter mother licks and licks her newborn's coat to clean it and get out the tangles. The pup's fur is so soft, fluffy, and full of air by the time she finishes that the baby floats easily on the sea's surface. Then the mother looks up at the sky and sees a huge bald eagle diving straight toward her pup! She has only seconds to prevent disaster. Young readers will explore the underwater world of this marine mammal through clear text, full-color photos, and diagrams. Age-appropriate activities give readers a chance to make observations and develop animal-science skills.

A few seals are playing in the waves near a shore. Suddenly a dark, triangle-shaped fin appears above the water's surface. When the seals see the fin headed toward them, they scatter in all directions as fast as they can. They know that one of the scariest predators in the sea--a great white shark--is headed their way! Young readers will explore the underwater world of this enormous fish through clear text, full-color photos, and diagrams. Age-appropriate activities, such as describing the differences between an adult and a pup, give readers a chance to make observations and to develop animal-science skills.