Synopsis
FOR USE IN SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES ONLY. The author-photographer, a marine biologist, uses his own photographs to introduce readers to some of the more amusing characteristics of the creatures he's encountered on his dives.
School Library Journal
PreS-Gr 3-- A brief alliterative, rhythmic text accompanies a host of brilliant full-color photos. The slight text contains some minor quirks. For instance, ``A nose that shines in the dark!'' refers to the luminous fleshy proturberance on the snout of a deep-sea anglerfish. Also the fish on the back cover is not a guineafowl puffer as indicated in the notes. More irksome are such nonscientific phrases as ``Faces that are friendly'' and ``Faces that are fierce.'' Some of the small inset photos lose their definition when placed against multicolored backgrounds, but the others are in clear contrast to the vivid blues and greens of a wavering, watery world. Despite these minor carps, the glowing photos and simple text provide a rare look at some strangely shaped and/or brightly colored ocean dwellers for young readers. A final page names all the fish depicted, page by page, but the pages aren't numbered, and no further information or description is given. --Patricia Manning, Eastchester Public Library, NY