Button Books £12.99
ISBN: 978-1-78708-163-5
The latest in the fascinating Factology range from Button books has a wide ranging look at everything in and on the oceans on this planet. within the 98 pages are details on denizens on the deep as well as exporation and even giant cruise liners, yes it covers pretty much everything. Along with photographs, diagrams and charts an incredible amount of topics are covered including what makes waves (discover the massivetides at Fundy bay), or maybe the reason why the sea is so salty! The five oceans are looked at, although the point is made that it is all one vast body of water really.
We hear of the gulfstream, of creatures developing in the regions under the sunlight zone (there are four such regions) , of underwater waterfalls (to do with water temperature) and of drones being used to hunt down shoals of fish for the trawlers.
Of course not eveything is beautiful and we look at the downside such as pollution as well as dangers such as riptides and whirlpools and pressure when we go underwater. That’s not to mention the mythical monsters referenced here and some capricious gods as well. Even the Bermuds Triangle gets a mention.
One of the best sections is that on sound underwater and introduces the sofar channel and the type of mammals that make use of it.
As with all the Factology books it ends with ‘The Big Quiz’. So how much have you retained – try to find what makes the beaches in the Bahamas pink.
This series keeps on going strong with the clever way that it slides in facts without cramming them into you like a text book. It’s a great introduction to each topic for children and should be incorporated into a school library. it may turn them into budding marine biologists!