Ocean Life Up Close – serie

Jellyfish are graceful, beautiful ocean animals. But their looks are deceiving. Those long, wavy tentacles can really sting! Jellyfish are often transparent. They do not have bones, blood, or brains. Despite their simplicity, these creatures have been around for millions of years. Discover more about jellyfish in this title for emergent readers.

Armed with intelligence, eight arms, and a beak, octopuses amaze scientists and students alike. Octopuses often decorate their dens with shells. Some have been observed tapping their prey on the shoulder to surprise them before chowing down. Others may completely disappear with camouflage. Young readers will surely dive into this awe-inspiring title!

Did you know stingray babies are called pups? As soon as pups are born, they are ready to survive on their own! Once they are adults, they will feed on shrimp and clams. They often hide from predators, but they may also use their tail to inject poison. Discover more about stingrays in this title for emergent readers.

Walruses have big tusks under hairy mustaches. These animals use their long teeth to fight or lift themselves out of the water. Walruses have thick skin and a lot of blubber. They can weigh more than 3,000 pounds (1,361 kilograms)! Find out more about these massive creatures in this book for beginning readers.

At the sight of danger, puffer fish blow up! Their bodies become like balloons. Their plump lips and oversize eyes, usually exaggerated, look more proportionate for a time. The goal is to use size to intimidate. Fascinating content in this title will suck young readers in.

Not all seals measure up to one another. The ringed seal, for example, is four times shorter and more than fifty times lighter than the elephant seal! This elementary title puts on display the common features that make seals of all sizes alike.

Did you know that clawed lobsters can be right-clawed or left-clawed? Every baby is born with two cutter claws. Then one cutter claw eventually develops into a crusher claw, which determines handedness. Beginning readers will want to get their hands on this ocean animal profile!

Every orca pod has its very own theme song! Musical elements include whistles, clicks, and pops. “Singing” is the orca way of communicating, navigating, and hunting. This read offers young children the chance to get in tune with the world’s largest dolphin species.

A leafy or a weedy. Every sea dragon is one or the other. Leafies have the advantage when it comes to being underwater masters of disguise. They look just like pieces of swaying seaweed! In this book, young readers can compare and contrast leafy and weedy sea dragons.

Curious how sea lions got their name? Well, male sea lions are responsible. Most have a lion-like mane, and they roar loudly to protect females. Young readers will learn all about the wild relatives of the trick-performing sea lions they enjoy watching at the zoo.

Just because they live in water doesn’t mean sea creatures don’t need a good cleaning. Luckily, the angelfish is perfect for the job! These helpful fish rid their neighbors of pesky parasites. It’s like a “swim-by” cleaning service! Young readers will marvel over this colorful title about angelfish.

Squids are one of the most fascinating creatures of the sea! About 1,000 feet below the ocean’s surface, these cephalopods are experts at evading enemies. Some squirt ink, while others change colors to confuse predators. Young readers will learn all about squids in this enticing title about one of the ocean’s most unusual animals.

Did you know that crabs look like mini, clear lobsters when they are babies? Crabs have to molt many times before they even look like adults with hard outer shells. Some crabs grow their own shells while others find used shells to call their own. Find out about a crab's life cycle, physical traits, habitat, and more in this title for beginning readers.

Shaped like torpedoes, Great white sharks can launch out of the water to catch prey. Named after their white bellies, these sharks easily blend in with the sun when seen from below. In addition to their coloring, these sharks have serrated teeth for tearing. They are made to hunt! In this exciting title, learn more about great white sharks and why they are one of the top predators in the ocean.

Nearly as large as a school bus, humpback whales are a sight to see! Near the surface, these giants will come up to breathe from their blowholes. They migrate to find food and may hunt in groups. Since these whales do not have teeth, they happily gulp prey with their enormous mouths. Deep below the surface, males sing songs. Get in tune with humpback whales and pick up this book for young learners.

Clinging below the ocean's surface are small creatures with horse heads and monkey tails. Sea horses may have parts that look like other animals, but they are their own unique specimen. In fact, sea horses are so extraordinary that the males give birth! Although sea horses are extremely slow swimmers, they will quickly enter the hearts and minds of curious, young readers!

Sea turtles have strong flippers to propel them through water. These shelled animals may migrate thousands of miles to lay eggs. Although they are not agile on shore, some can swim faster than 20 miles (32 kilometers) per hour! Many sea turtles live to be well over 30 years old. Beginning readers will learn a boat load of exciting information in this fun title on sea turtles.

Manatees are true gentle giants. Though many weigh more than 1,000 pounds, they do not use their size to overpower other sea creatures. They spend a lot of their time peacefully eating underwater grasses. Young students will close this title understanding how the manatee earned its “sea cow” nickname.

Sea anemones are big believers in the buddy system. They welcome clownfish to hang out in their tentacles and snack on leftovers. In return, their clownfish pals say thank you with a parasite cleaning. Beginning readers will discover how sea anemones have mastered the give and take of friendship.

Emperor penguins often come together like a sports team. A tight huddle keeps them warm in their Antarctic homeland. Coping with the cold is a must for these birds. Their wings cannot fly them to milder climates. This children’s title tells how emperor penguins manage life in the South Pole.