Pistes d'exploration

Discuss what makes these photographs striking (transparency, rarity of creatures, size, clarity, etc.). Why would the illustrator maintain the black background throughout? What would make it difficult to take these photos? What equipment or vehicle would have been necessary?

Without using the name or colour, take turns describing a creature for a partner and having him or her find it in the book. Once found, have your partner share two or three facts from the accompanying text.

Select a favourite creature and jot down three or more of the most interesting facts about it. Share these with the class.

Create a vertical sea depth map. Add icons (titled and/or captioned) of the sea creatures according to the depth at which they typically live.

Discuss what makes these photographs striking (colours, transparency, rarity of creatures, size, clarity, etc.)? Why does the illustrator maintain the black background throughout the book? What would make it difficult to take these photos? What equipment or vehicle would have been necessary?

Search for vocabulary related to sea creatures’ body parts and create a glossary chart.

Choose a sea creature to describe orally to a partner who must then find the page on which it is featured.

Choose and display photos of six or more sea creatures. Play a 20 Questions style game: players ask Yes or No questions in order to identify a weird creature.

Weird Birds

Mots-clés

Non-fiction , animal adaptations , illustrations (photographs) , marine animals , nature , oceans , underwater life

Commentaire descriptif

This book offers an excellent visual reference to the elusive creatures that live in the deep sea—a world where pressure and total darkness make expeditions rarer than trips to the moon, as the introduction notes. Translucent beauties, such as the anthomedusae jellyfish and the naked sea butterfly, contrast with the open jaws of the deep-sea barracuda and the monstrous-looking fangtooth. Young readers may see similarities to insects and arachnids in the feather star’s long legs and the tarantula-like yeti crab. Each image is accompanied by a caption. These captions, and the thoughtful, lengthy introduction to each creature, offer many interesting facts and ideas for reflection. (An index is also included.) The language is better suited for reading by adults than children, and may be profitably used as a guide for discussion. Altogether, the book offers a valuable perspective on deep-sea life, and a gorgeous catalogue of astonishing, unfamiliar creatures with whom we share the Earth’s waters.