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The Magic School Bus #5

On the Ocean Floor

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To celebrate its 20th anniversary, Scholastic is re-releasing the ten original Magic School Bus titles in paperback. With updated scientific information, the bestselling science series ever is back!

When Ms. Frizzle drives the Magic School Bus full speed ahead into the ocean, the class takes a submarine expedition that's anything but ordinary. With a well-meaning lifeguard in tow, the class takes a deep breath and learns about hot water vents, coral reefs, plant and animal life on the ocean floor, and more!

48 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1992

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1328 people want to read

About the author

Joanna Cole

488 books204 followers
Joanna Cole, who also wrote under the pseudonym B. J. Barnet, was an author of children’s books who teaches science.

She is most famous as the author of The Magic School Bus series of children's books. Joanna Cole wrote over 250 books ranging from her first book Cockroach to her famous series Magic School Bus.

Cole was born in Newark, New Jersey, and grew up in nearby East Orange. She loved science as a child, and had a teacher she says was a little like Ms. Frizzle. She attended the University of Massachusetts and Indiana University before graduating from the City College of New York with a B.A. in psychology. After some graduate education courses, she spent a year as a librarian in a Brooklyn elementary school. Cole subsequently became a letters correspondent at Newsweek, and then a senior editor for Doubleday Books for Young Readers.

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5 stars
3,558 (55%)
4 stars
1,548 (24%)
3 stars
1,031 (16%)
2 stars
162 (2%)
1 star
83 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 170 reviews
Profile Image for Mariah Roze.
1,057 reviews1,056 followers
November 3, 2015
This is a great book, but students seem to struggle with the information and text spread all over the page.
Profile Image for SaraKat.
1,977 reviews38 followers
October 22, 2017
I loved this trip through the ocean. It shows such a wonderful and easy to follow portrait of the different parts of the ocean as well as the life that lives there. A great book for any age person who wants a beginning introduction to the ocean and its life.
17 reviews
March 4, 2017
Summary: In this crazy adventure of The Magic School Bus on the ocean floor, Ms. Frizzle takes her science class for a trip into the ocean. Along the way, the local lifeguard tries to stop their bus from going into the ocean and he ends up going a long for the ride. The kids of her class learn about the different aspects of the ocean floor while almost getting eaten by a shark, swimming alongside a school of fish and getting an up-close look of coral reef.

Thoughts: I have always loved The Magic School Bus books because the author puts a really fun twist on all of her books. But I particularly like learning about the ocean floor because I think the ocean is an interesting part of our world and I enjoyed how the author presented the information and weaved it into a narrative because it didn’t seem like I was learning anything since I enjoyed the story. For example early on in the story I learned the direction that a squid moves in and then when the class went into the ocean I was able to see it and envision it moving along with ocean floor.

Text Structure: (Genre Characteristic & Literary Element): This specific book had a couple different text structures within it. Most of the information in the book was presented in a descriptive way along the sides of the pages as the students’ work. I know the text structure is a descriptive one because the topic or sea mammal is described by listing its features, examples, or characteristics. For example, in the beginning of the book Ralph is hanging up a poster titled “Swimmers in the Sea” by Shirley, John and Ralph. This poster shows the different animals found in the sea-- fish, whale, jellyfish, squid and scallop. The poster shows how they move and has a drawing. Another example is the author uses students work on yellow lined paper on the sides of the pages which contain definitions, drawings, photos or specific information that goes a long with the topic on that page. I thought this was a very creative way to display the information since the language would be kid based and a child can easily relate the information presented to other things that they have learned. It also gave the book a fun way to introduce the various parts of the ocean.
One characteristic of the genre that I found interesting is the way the author uses the narrative to give the reader information about the ocean as well as presenting new information through the characters’ speech. For example, when they are near the sharks, Ms. Frizzle tells the class that “The number of people killed by sharks every year is very small.” Then she tells them “humans are not the main diet of tiger sharks but they may attack if humans are nearby.” This then causes one of the girls to panic since they are near the tiger sharks in that scene. Alongside the pages, we see different information presented to about sharks such as the bones in their body, what they look like and more. The author did a fantastic job in tying these three aspects together and making them work as one cohesive unit.

Tone: Throughout the book we can see the authors love for the ocean. She makes it apparent in the beginning of the book as we see the excitement unfold as Ms. Frizzle announces that she has a field trip to the ocean. However, her choice of words make the book adventurous and made me feel like I didn’t know what is going to happen next. The book starts out with a fun excited tone as the class is excited to go to the ocean, then it quickly changes to a serious one as we see Arnold and another classmate are afraid of the darkness of the ocean floor and swimming in the same waters as sharks. Towards the end of the book, I felt kind of sad that the adventure was over because everything was as if “nothing had happened”. I was left wishing I had a teacher like Ms. Frizzle and went on cool adventures like her class does.


Color: The color pallet in this book is mostly lighter colors but the illustrator seems to choose darker colors to draw attention to a key character’s speech or actions. For example, I noticed that as characters are speaking they are illustrated in darker colors than the ones who are not speaking. The illustrator might have done this as a way to help guide the eye to certain speech bubbles first. For example, when they encounter some sharks, my eyes immediately are drawn to Lenny (wearing red) as he warns the children about the shark infested waters and the conversation he has with the kids surrounding him, then my eyes go toward Ms. Frizzle (wearing dark purple) showing plankton to a girl in dark pink. I think the author did this to show the reader who the important characters are and who is not so important.

Point of View (Visual Element): The point of view of the reader throughout the book changes depending on the scene, but for the most part we are level alongside the class in the activity that they are doing. In some of these scenes I got the impression that I was a participant in the story since some of the kids are looking at me. This really drew me in and made me feel like I was a part of the story. For example, in the opening scene one the boys says “wow, its hot today” and he is looking at me. This then drives the conversation with two other classmates talking about Ms. Frizzles dress. This caused me to form an instant connection to this character as well as other as it happens throughout the book. It is what really made me feel like I was in the class swimming with them.
Profile Image for Andy Zach.
Author 10 books97 followers
August 19, 2020
Something I noticed more in book 5 of this children's science and fantasy series by Joanna Cole and illustrated by Bruce Degan, is how much humor there is in each book. I knew the books were light-hearted, but reading every page, there is almost always some joke or pun.

Often things go humorously wrong during the course of the book. In this one, the bragging lifeguard gets dragged onto the Magic School bus as it explores the ocean. He serves as a comic relief character.

The children's homeword papers and illustrations often contain puns and other humor.

What better way to teach children that science is fun?
29 reviews
February 26, 2018
This book is another fun addition of the Magic School Bus series covering the ocean. It is a great way to teach kids facts about the ocean environment while using a science fiction approach. Any kid would love to take a field trip with Ms. Frizzle and that extra element of wonder helps young readers feel intrigued and absorb the content. This, along with all Magic School Bus books are a great fit for any classroom.
Profile Image for Sean Harding.
5,765 reviews33 followers
January 19, 2021
The Magic School Bus rides again and this time it hits the Ocean Floor.
THis one seemed a lot more wordy than the other four so far, and didn't have quite the same spark.
Still solid, but it just didn't do it as much for me this time.
Profile Image for Chloe M.
75 reviews
November 28, 2021
Informational
2nd-6th Grade
Who doesn't love the Magic School Bus books? These can be the most fun collection of books to learn scientific facts. It clearly has an unrealistic plot with the shrinking bus, but that just adds a fun element of imagination for readers. The illustrations are captivating and colorful and the dialog is very entertaining. Overall, it is a fabulous book to use for teaching all things to do with the ocean floor!
Profile Image for Nicole.
39 reviews1 follower
November 24, 2017
Medals:
Grade Level: K-2nd
Summary: In this adventure Ms. Frizzle takes her class to the bottom of the ocean where the students learn about coral reefs, and a variety of other amphibious animals. This book explores many aspects of our oceans and what makes them so unique. The range of animals and equipment that is discussed makes for s great start for a theme or project.
Review: This story is great for introducing aspects of the ocean to a class with fun and memorable characters that students may have seen before. The pictures are fantastic and are often labeled setting a positive example of the importance of students labeling their pictures.
This book would work well in starting a topic a about the ocean and giving students great background information.
Students can recreate scenes in the story and label their creatures and other things they may find in the ocean.
107 reviews
December 5, 2010
My son loves any book in the Magic School Bus series and this is no exception. Ms. Frizzle's class is doing a project on the ocean and learning about the kinds of animals and plants that live there. Well you know what happens next ). These are quality books to have in any classroom, appropriate for kindergarten through third grade and can be used to teach across multiple disciplines but is would awesome for a science and easily integrated with LA (vocabulary).
16 reviews
November 6, 2016
The Magic School Bus series again. In this one, Ms. Frizzle brings them for a beach day. but instead of going to the beach, she goes to the ocean. They drive into the ocean and see sea creatures.
I liked this one. It teaches about different parts of the ocean; about reefs, about how sea life adapts in the ocean. My favorite thing to learn about in this book was about the different parts of the coast including the beach, the intertidal zone, the continental shelf, and the continental slope.
161 reviews
October 6, 2010
When Mrs. Frizzel decides to take her class to the ocean floor things go crazy!! When they explore the ocean and sea creatures they found out some very interesting facts about the ocean. Read this book if you like fish and sea creachers!!
158 reviews6 followers
June 17, 2021
Before I started elementary school, I knew about The Magic School Bus. Important book series from Joanna Cole and Bruce Degen, this collection of science adventures introduced me at an early age to many scientific concepts important to our everyday life, our world, and how objects around us work.

For each book, a different science topic. And in all of them, the same main protagonist. Mrs. Frizzle and her mysterious school bus. A machine ruined in appearance, but magical in its tools. Indeed, every time she takes her class on a field trip, the bus transforms itself and its passengers into explorers who discover the mysteries of our world. Having at their hands advanced technology and tools that would make jealous the most envious inventors, this class experiences incredible adventures where they learn new subjects; alongside us readers who discover their stories.

In this book, fifth volume in The Magical School Bus series, a new topic. Our oceans; and their ecosystem. Everything about our fishes, whales, sharks, vegetation, and sea levels that exist. As always, Frizzle and her class will go on a field trip. In appearance, she drives them to the Ocean. Which makes the students think they are going to the beach. Without realizing that they are going down to the Ocean. And discover, alongside us, the reality of our sea's ecosystem. How fragile it is and how we must preserve it. We also learn interesting facts about how fish live and how their food chain is based on an intricate concept that is part of our entire set of survival. Then comes another interesting surprise; an outsider who gets to participate in the adventure. A lifeguard named Lenny, not the very brightest man on Earth, but always ready to do his job. Naive and innocent, a good companion for Ms. Frizzle's class. And in his presence, we realize how her class is not the only one to enjoy her school bus's magic. That he and others before her class might have discovered it. Yet, these outsiders don't seem to make an overfuss about it. Which is the magic of Ms. Frizzle as her technology is both extraordinary, and yet remains as easy to accept the minute you experience it.

Through this story, we explore amazing details about our oceans and ecosystem. Which makes this book a purchase worth reading multiple times. A great tool to learn about our seas and planet's oceans and how life happens down there. And as the author Joanna Cole and illustrator Bruce Degen worked with scientists from the Marine Institute at the University of Connecticut, alongside other organisations like the American Museum of Natural History and the National Science Foundation, the infos we have there are backed up by reliable experts. Scientific info written in a comprehensible language so that everyone can understand the subject. With clear images that help educate readers and understand our organs’ work process.

For the prose and story, it is told from the class’s point of view. Speaking in unison; sharing a same common voice. Alongside extra comic book bubbles where, in the illustrations, characters talk to each other.

As for the artwork, it is done in watercolors with pen, alongside color pencils, gouache, and ink. And within each of them, we are presented the classroom, the protagonists, and their adventures. All under great illustrations that cover either the entire page, or two pages if an action occurs on a long wide scope view or if it evolves progressively. With intricate drawings about the coral reefs, our animals, and our seas. Including interesting bubble drawings showing the bus's progression accross the various sea planes that it explores.

Now for the book’s editions, you might have either paperback or hardcover versions, but also huge volumes that teachers can use to present to a wide group. So depending on the type of volume you want, you can check with your book store if they offer it or not. As for me, I have a paperback edition and the printing is well done. The text is printed at a proper size; easy to read for all readers. Including adults for it presents basic information about the subjects involved and can be a good reviewer for people who might have forgotten some of their science basics. Especially for the other books that deal with big topics like water resources, the solar system, beehives, dinosaurs, Earth, famous scientists, etc.

In sum, this book, alongside this series, is a great success from Scholastic and its two artists. A valuable educational material alongside an awesome story to read while learning about our world and our oceans.
72 reviews
January 18, 2019
It was a hot day in school and all of the children were doing lots of stuff and were writing about oceans. The children were putting finishing touches on how ocean creatures swim when someone said, "I wish we could go swimming." Ms. Frizzle said she was planning a tour in the ocean for the class. The next day everybody showed up in bathing suits. A boy was saying, "I'm going to build a sand castle." When they got on the bus the teacher just kept driving past the lifeguard station and into the sea. Lenny the lifeguard said, "Excuse me, I have to safe a school bus!" Ms. Frizzle opened the door of the school bus and let the lifeguard in and he said, "I feel safe already." Then all the children screamed and closed their eyes. When they opened their eyes they noticed that there were a few changes. The school bus had changed into a submarine and everyone was wearing diving suits. Ms. Frizzle thought it was a good time to let them out. Thank goodness they had air tanks. Then they noticed shapes that were sharks. One of the children said, "Oh no, they're tiger sharks." The teacher told them not to worry because the number of people killed by sharks every year is very low. The teacher held onto the shark and the lifeguard said, "Hey shark, come back, I'm supposed to rescue the children!" The children saw other things like worms that looked like lipstick. Finally the sharks went away and the children got back into the bus. The bus turned into a submersible. At the end the bus had turned into a boat with stained glass and Ms. Frizzle said it was time to go. The children noticed that the bus was turning flat and the lifeguard asked the children, "Tell me children, is your bus always like this?" The children said it had not been flat before. When they got back to the beach, there the bus was in the parking lot just as nothing had happened.
65 reviews
Read
September 9, 2024
The Magic School Bus series was one of my favorites as a kid, I read their books and watched the TV series they had in school. I chose this book to review because I remember reading it when I was younger, these books, take you on an adventure and also teach you along the way. They are a great storytelling and are very captivating books because they teach you in a way that children can understand. This book journeys through the ocean zones from shore to deep sea, explaining the creatures the ecosystem and engaging in an informative and fun way. The illustrations are vibrant, and have information they give you a better understanding. The cartoon drawings with the realistic in this of the adventure and stories talking about creates an educational atmosphere. These books have a lot of information because there’s a lot to take in on each page which can be distracting, because it’s not one of those simple books, it has more depth to it because of the adventures they go on and the topics they talk about. These books are good for learning because of the engaging storytelling and the colorful illustrations. It is a fun and informative book that delivers knowledge.
100 reviews
Read
October 14, 2022
Mrs. Frizzle takes the school bus full speed head-on into the ocean! in this book the class takes a trip into the ocean. The class takes a submarine adventure after a long day of learning about marine life. Suddenly the bus dove into the ocean deeper. Right away Mrs. Frizzle started to talk about the ocean and all the things they were passing. Soon they got out and explored more She even pulled out microscopes so the students could see the microorganisms in the ocean. Soon enough the class was motoring over the open ocean they made it to the coral reefs. Their next stop was to se the dolphins, then all the birds you can find by the ocean. Once they got back to the classroom the students made a huge poster about the map of the ocean and they labeled it all.
99 reviews
February 17, 2021
The Magic School Bus is an informational series. Specifically, On the Ocean Floor is a great read about marine life. This book offers us an interesting way to learn new information to students. I plan on keeping many copies of The Magic School Bus in my classroom to encourage students to further read on information they may be learning. I love the use of illustrations in this book. It may seem overwhelming, but the illustrations also offer up learning. This book allows for students to learn about life in the ocean in a fun and silly way. This book is a great way to encourage reading while also focusing on a specific intrest.
25 reviews
May 1, 2018
For Ages: 4-9

Summary: A journey through the ocean and all the creatures and life that exists on the floor. Lots of information on the Ocean life that all children would enjoy.

Review: A great book that draws in the attention of children while also teaching them all about the ocean.

Classroom Use: Can be used as a text to compare to another text and have the children identify or think about if the book can be used for real facts but compare it to the story line and if that could really happen.
Profile Image for Julie Barrett.
9,197 reviews206 followers
November 28, 2018
The magic school bus on the ocean floor by Joanna Cole
Crazy class trip when the bus turns into a special vehicle that can go under the water. The teachers likes the kids to learn up close. They have air tanks and can get out of the bus to see all the creatures that live on the ocean floor.
So many fun facts about the life under the water.
Life guard is a trip!
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).
Profile Image for Helen Plum.
174 reviews6 followers
February 7, 2022
Since everyone is learning about Ocean so Ms. Frizzle took her class to the beach. Everyone was elated. The next day when they reached the beach they all went into the ocean on their bus. The ocean was beautiful and mesmerizing. No one did not get a chance to see the whole ocean because it was too enormous.

Star Rating:: 4 Stars

Find it in our Library Catalog
17 reviews
Read
May 5, 2017
In The Magic School Bus On the Ocean Floor takes us on a journey through the wonders under water. This children's picture book by Joanna Cole gives the children who read them an excellent basic understanding on what they should start learning regarding the ocean. There is easy to understand information and context, and the information is still valid to the reader.
53 reviews
February 9, 2019
I personally love Magic Schools Bus Books, they even have shows to go along with the books. I love how children can use their imagination to hop on the bus with them. I also like how the book goes up close to something like the ocean, even body parts, and more. This book talks about the ocean life and much more. It is great tools to use for when you are teaching the children about science.
41 reviews
September 5, 2019
The magic School Bus books are always so fun to read! It allows imagination to flow, and children can have fun while learning and reading this book. This book was about the ocean and during reading there was information about sea life and what goes on in the sea. This would be a very good read when teaching about the ocean!
40 reviews
February 20, 2020
The Magic School Bus is such a great series. It is very educational but makes it fun by making it silly. With a eccentric teacher who takes you on crazy field trips in the name of education, what could go wrong? The book has many different text features which makes it interesting to read. I like that it is told from the children's point of view.
234 reviews
April 1, 2020
I’m sure this is a great book but I’m reviewing the audiobook. Don’t waste the $2.99. I’m assuming the book has little dialogue bubbles because the random people interrupting in the audiobook make no sense. It’s also advertised as an hour long but the actual story is 10 min. I enjoy magic school bus books but this audio was a flop.
Profile Image for Kendra Elizabeth.
40 reviews
April 16, 2020
Very educational book about the ocean floor and information about its surrounding counterparts. I would recommend this book for a third grade to fifth grade science classroom. There are many activities that could be made to do along with this book. A very good book for personal or small group readings.
Profile Image for Dave Lester.
404 reviews5 followers
August 9, 2021
I really enjoy reading some books in this series to my son. They are longer for a children's book and packed full of scientific information (such as this one being about the ocean floor). I recommend getting this series and reading to your kids for the discussions that are fostered and for learning.
Profile Image for Sam Dawson.
132 reviews
December 6, 2017
Magic school bus is educational and fun. The entire class take a trip to the ocean, literally. Mrs. Cruz takes the students to a field trip in the ocean and teaches them about the many different animals of the sea.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 170 reviews

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