Oceans: Looking at Beaches and Coral Reefs, Tides and Currents, Sea Mammals and Fish, Seaweeds and Other Ocean Wonders

Patrick Colgan is the executive director of the Canadian Museum of
Nature in Ottawa.

This book employs a pithy text, provocative questions (with answers
given at the back of the book), a bold layout, and colorful
illustrations to inform young readers about all aspects of the oceans.
Topics cover the oceans’ physical features (global importance,
salinity, tides, currents, and tsunamis); habitats (beach, rocks,
tidepools, shallow and deep regions); diversity of plant and animal
life; ecology (including food chains); and pollution (including
biomonitoring and conservation measures). A big pedagogical plus
throughout the book is the wide range of simple but effective exercises
teachers can use to illustrate important points and to emphasize safety
and environmental protection. The author’s inclusion of research by
Canadian marine scientists is a commendable step toward creating some
national role models and supporting scientific literacy. Highly
recommended.