Survival Secrets of Sea Animals by Mary Jo Rhodes and David Hall

Rhodes, Mary Jo and David Hall. (2007).Survival Secrets of Sea Animals. Mexico City: Children’s Press.

Grade Level:
I would recommend this book for students in grades 2-6.

Author Credibility:
David Hall has earned degrees in zoology and medicine. He has worked many years as a wildlife photojournalist. Mary Jo Rhodes has worked as a librarian and in children’s book publishing. Two consultants Karen Gowlett-Holmes and Gene Helfman worked on this book. This book is a Children’s Choice Book.

Summary:
This book is divided into chapters. Each chapter describes a survival secret of sea animals. The concept is introduced and then examples follow in each chapter. Some animals survive by finding a place to hide. Some animals live in these hiding places while others stay until danger passes. Other sea animals have sharp weapons called spines. They use these for defense. Sometimes fish travel in large groups called schools for protection. They are less likely to get attacked in these schools. Other animals use camouflage to blend in with its surroundings. These animals are hard to see. Animals can also use bright colors that confuse their predators. They may develop fake eye spots to fool predators. Some animals also look like animals that predators do not want to mess with. This is a copycat defense. Some sea animals can regenerate. Some can shock you. Others steal weapons. They eat stinging animals (they are not stung), and they travel to white growths on the animals back (instead of being digested) that can then be used to sting predators.

Standards:
Science: Life Science

Illustrations:
The illustrations in this book consist of photographs. The photographs were taken by David Hall. The photographs accompany the text, and help the reader relate to the topic.

Access Features:
*Table of Contents
*Photographs with Captions
*Glossary
*Learn More About Survival Secrets of Sea Animals (Related Resources)
*Index
*About the Author
*About the Consultants

How I would use the book in the classroom:
This book would be great when learning about sea animals. It looks at a variety of sea creatures and how they survive.

My response to the book:
This book was very interesting. I liked the way it was organized. The photographs were beautiful. The book was full of a lot of interesting facts.

Related Texts:
*Predators of the Sea by Mary Jo Rhodes
*Life in a Kelp Forest by Mary Jo Rhodes
*Dolphins, Seals, and Other Sea Mammals by Mary Jo Rhodes
*Octopus and Squid by Mary Jo Rhodes
*Life on a Coral Reef by Mary Jo Rhodes
*Crabs by Mary Jo Rhodes

Other:
This book is 43 pages plus the access features. This book is organized by chapters. Chapter titles grab the reader’s attention. The author talks to the reader in a conversational tone. They often asked the reader questions. This book was an easy read and very interesting.