The Great Bear Sea: Exploring the Marine Life of a Pacific Paradise

Gr 6 Up—The Great Bear Sea, a name used by some conservationists, is that region of the Pacific Ocean running along the vast area of British Columbia known as the Great Bear Rain Forest. This book's subtitle seems both apt and a bit ironic. There's rich, interdependent life here, but there's also trouble in paradise for many threatened species. The nine chapters of chatty text describe the characteristics, survival issues, and relationships of various ocean- and estuary-dwelling creatures. Plankton, salmon, shrimp, crabs, sea otters, seals, whales, and many others are part of the great web that is discusssed. Undersea plants and many birds and land animals that feed on water species and their eggs and young are also included. The captioned, large and small color photographs, sometimes magnified or color enhanced, vary in quality. Some are striking, others ordinary or even confusing. Some readers may wish for pictures of the less-familiar animals. Bits of topical text titled "Maritime Morsels" appear in small columns of varied color on each spread. Like the photographs, these vary in relevance to the neighboring discussion. This region is quite near the United States, and the ecological emphasis is timely and worthwhile. However, the wordy text becomes repetitive in making its point. Patient nonfiction readers are the likely audience. The brief suggestions for further reading include two rather dated titles and three other books by McAllister and Read.—Margaret Bush, Simmons College, Boston