1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Jenkins, Steve. Down Down Down. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children, 2009. ISBN 0-87358-542-9
2. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
"More people have walked on the moon than have visited the deepest spot in the ocean." Who knew the ocean was such a mysterious, unexplored place? Written as an exploratory journey from the ocean's surface to the sea floor, Jenkins informational book Down Down Down gives readers an inside look into ocean animals, their habitats, and survival needs. The book is clearly organized and written in a way that covers a few life forms at each depth as the reader and the author descend into the darkest part of the ocean, and is not meant to be a fully comprehensive study of all ocean life.
The illustrations, carefully paper pierced, are an accurate representation of each animal without being a real picture, while the use of different shades of blue help readers feel like the ocean really is getting darker and darker as their journey continues deeper and deeper. The illustrations help engage early readers, while providing interesting and factual information about each mentioned life form at the corresponding depth, making it a great book for research at the older grades. The strategically placed zone depth on the right side of every 2-page spread helps readers better understand where in the ocean they are exploring using feet/meters and degrees Fahrenheit/Celsius, and includes the surface, the sunlit zone, the twilight zone, the dark zone, the abyssal plain, the hydrothermal vents, and the marianas trench, the deepest spot in the sea.
At the back of the book, the author offers diagrams that show the size of each creature compared to an adult human's body or hand, along with more detailed information on each creature, including, but not limited to their size, weight, how they move and what they eat. In addition, Jenkins provides a bibliography that supports his research and ability to provide factual information, as well as a visual depth illustration to help readers understand that though divers may explore as deep as 2,000 feet (61 meters) with gear or special suits, one would need a special research vessel to reach the deepest spot in the ocean at 35, 838 feet (10,923 meters).
3. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
The illustrations, carefully paper pierced, are an accurate representation of each animal without being a real picture, while the use of different shades of blue help readers feel like the ocean really is getting darker and darker as their journey continues deeper and deeper. The illustrations help engage early readers, while providing interesting and factual information about each mentioned life form at the corresponding depth, making it a great book for research at the older grades. The strategically placed zone depth on the right side of every 2-page spread helps readers better understand where in the ocean they are exploring using feet/meters and degrees Fahrenheit/Celsius, and includes the surface, the sunlit zone, the twilight zone, the dark zone, the abyssal plain, the hydrothermal vents, and the marianas trench, the deepest spot in the sea.
At the back of the book, the author offers diagrams that show the size of each creature compared to an adult human's body or hand, along with more detailed information on each creature, including, but not limited to their size, weight, how they move and what they eat. In addition, Jenkins provides a bibliography that supports his research and ability to provide factual information, as well as a visual depth illustration to help readers understand that though divers may explore as deep as 2,000 feet (61 meters) with gear or special suits, one would need a special research vessel to reach the deepest spot in the ocean at 35, 838 feet (10,923 meters).
3. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
From Hornbook: "Jenkins takes his signature collage to the oceans, sinking readers from the surface of the Pacific Ocean down nearly 11,000 meters to the bottom of the Marianas Trench.”
From Booklist: “In this plunge into the deep, Jenkins displays his usual keen awareness of what is fascinating about biology and imparts it without sensationalism—the facts speak for themselves . . Sophisticated cut- and torn-paper collage-work fit the alien qualities of the subjects well.”
From School Library Journal: "The bold views tend to emphasize the weirdness of these little-known species, but the repeated message that humans have much to explore and learn in the deeper ocean is intriguing and inviting."
2010 ALA Notable Children's Book for Middle Readers
2009 Cybils Award Nominee for Nonfiction Picture Books
Texas Bluebonnet Award Nominee
4. CONNECTIONS
From School Library Journal: "The bold views tend to emphasize the weirdness of these little-known species, but the repeated message that humans have much to explore and learn in the deeper ocean is intriguing and inviting."
2010 ALA Notable Children's Book for Middle Readers
2009 Cybils Award Nominee for Nonfiction Picture Books
Texas Bluebonnet Award Nominee
4. CONNECTIONS
Gather other book about the ocean to read such as:
• Johnson, Rebecca. A Journey Into the Ocean. ISBN-10 1575055910
• Baker, Jeannie. The Hidden Forest. ISBN-10 0744578760
Gather other Steve Jenkins books to read such as:
• Biggest, Strongest, Fastest. ISBN-10 0395861365
• What Do You Do with a Tail Like This. ISBN-10 061899713X
• Eye to Eye: How Animals See The World. ISBN-10 0547959079
Lesson Ideas:
Ocean animals research - report on particular animals with illustrations including the depth in which they live. Finish research with a field trip an aquarium - our first grade class visits Sea Life every year when we start up out animal research.
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