Beth Anderson, Children's Writer

Here’s a Perfect Picture Book Friday pick for summer that takes you deep, deep down to the bottom of the ocean. Come along and see what it feels like to plunge into the murky depths! Find out what it’s like to be inside a tiny submersible.

And be sure to come back next week for author Michelle Cusolito’s post on Mining for Heart – how she found the heart of this science adventure and molded it into a story.  

Title: Flying Deep, Climb Inside Deep-Sea Submersible ALVIN
Written by: Michelle Cusolito
Illustrated by: Nicole Wong
Charlesbridge 2018
Suitable for ages: 5-9

Themes/topics: ocean, marine biology, scientific exploration

Opening:
Imagine you’re the pilot of Alvin, a deep-sea submersible barely big enough for three.

Brief synopsis (frombarnesandnoble.com)
Climb aboard Alvin, the famous deep-sea submersible credited with helping to find the Titanic, and take a trip two miles down to the bottom of the ocean.
Experience a day in the life of an Alvin pilot and join scientists at the seafloor to collect samples and conduct research. Along the way, discover what one wears, eats, and talks about during a typical eight-hour trip in a underwater craft and find out more about the animals that live deep in our oceans. Extensive back matter explains how Alvin works, describes the author’s research, and includes a glossary and further reading.

Activities and Resources:
For ocean crafts, see Vivian Kirkfield’s post on Flying Deep HERE.

Read more about the depths of the ocean:
Giant Squid by Candace Fleming
Shark Lady: The True Story of How Eugenie Clark Became the Ocean’s Most Fearless Scientist by Jess Keating

Commandeer a giant cardboard box and make your own Alvin!

Why I like this book:
The author takes the reader along for the ride as ALVIN descends into the ocean depths. Step by step, we see how the vehicle is launched, how it maneuvers, and what its mission is. We also get the play by play with radio communication to the ship on the surface, which would be totally fun in a read-aloud with some crackle and static realism in a darkened classroom with the images projected on a screen. Cusolito uses present tense to transport the readers as they vicariously experience this scientific mission. This very unique book is sure to get kids interested in marine sciences.

Visit author Susanna Hill’s Perfect Picture Books for a plethora of picture books listed by title and topic/theme, each with teacher/parent activities and resources.