Into the Deep!: Ready-to-Read Level 2

Gr 1-4–This title brings to life some of the wackiest and weirdest animals that really exist in the deepest depths of the Earth’s oceans. Dr. Ick takes the reader on a submarine journey to visit the barely explored ecosystems of the big blue. Readers will encounter creatures such as the vampire squid, the blobfish, and the leafy sea dragon in this short transitional reader. The inclusion of a glossary and table of contents gives the book a more “grown-up” feel, and the simple structure of the sentences is appropriate for readers who are moving beyond picture books. Unfortunately, the simplicity of the text takes away from the content, leaving much to be desired in terms of depth and detail. The illustrations are certainly something children will be drawn to; however, the lack of photographs makes it difficult for children to visualize what the creature really looks like, giving the book more of a make-believe feel as opposed to nonfiction. The few photographs that are included feel pasted into the layout without much intention, with no photo captions to aid readers comprehension.