Please welcome authors Lydia Lukidis and Mary Batten to Dynamic Book Duos– a blog featuring two books that pair together in a meaningful way along with coordinating educational activities to strengthen reading skills. This week’s Dynamic Book Duos pairing focuses on the creatures of the deep sea.
PERFECT PAIR: Creatures of the Deep Sea!
Both Deep Deep Down: The Secret Underwater Poetry of the Mariana Trench and Life in Hot Water: Wildlife at the Bottom of the Ocean deal with the deep sea. More specifically, both books highlight the amazing creatures that not only live in extreme and inhospitable conditions, but also thrive.
Book 1: Deep Deep Down: The Secret Underwater Poetry of the Mariana Trench
Deep, deep down, at the very bottom of the ocean, lies a secret world. Through lyrical narration, this spare-text STEM picture book takes readers on a journey to a place very few humans have ever been–the Mariana Trench. The imagined voyage debunks scary myths about this mysterious place with surprising and beautiful truths about life at Earth’s deepest point. DEEP, DEEP, DOWN: The Secret Underwater Poetry of the Mariana Trench shows a vibrant world far below, and teaches readers how interconnected our lives are to every place on the planet.
Book 2: Life in Hot Water: Wildlife at the Bottom of the Ocean
A dramatic overview of the deep-sea extremophiles that thrive in scalding water and permanent darkness at the bottom of the ocean.
The superhot fluid gushing from vents at the bottom of the ocean is one of the most extreme environments on Earth. Yet over millions of years, many organisms—from chemical-eating bacteria to eyeless crabs and iron-shelled snails—have evolved in amazing ways that enable them to thrive in this unlikely habitat. Scientists are hard at work to learn more about the complex ecosystems of the ocean depths.
Selected for the National Science Teaching Association’s list of “Outstanding Science Trade Books for Students K-12.”
EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES:
Coloring Pages for Deep Deep Down:
Activities for Life in Hot Water:
Activities for Both Books:
Ask the students to think about the three most hostile conditions of the trench:
- a lack of sunlight
- lack of food
- intense pressure
Then ask them to imagine and make up a creature of their own that would survive such conditions. They can write and draw out their ideas.
MEET THE AUTHORS:
