Sea Monsters

Magic Tree House Fact Tracker #17

by Mary Pope Osborne, Natalie Pope Boyce, Sal Murdocca (Illustrator)

How are an octopus and a squid different? What kinds of creatures live in the deepest abyss of the ocean? What do scientists say some legendary sea monsters really are? Find out the answers to these questions and more in this Magic Tree House Fact Sea Monsters.

Genres: Nonfiction, Childrens, Animals, Chapter Books, Middle Grade, Reference, Juvenile

49 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 9, 2011

About the author

Mary Pope Osborne is an American author of children's books and audiobook narrator. She is best known as the author of the Magic Tree House series, which as of 2017 sold more than 134 million copies worldwide. Both the series and Osborne have won awards, including for Osborne's charitable efforts at promoting children's literacy. One of four children, Osborne moved around in her childhood before attending the University of North Carolina. Following college, Osborne traveled before moving to New York City. She somewhat spontaneously began to write, and her first book was published in 1982. She went on to write a variety of other children's and young adult books before starting the Magic Tree House series in 1992. Osborne's sister Natalie Pope Boyce has written several compendium books to the Magic Tree House series, sometimes with Osborne's husband Will Osborne.

Reviews

[Unicorn Wishes · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked it!

[Jenny Clark · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating fact tracker! I've always loved the sea and sea creatures, so this one along with Dolphins And Sharks, have been my favorite two so far. Sharks and Other Predators: A Nonfiction Companion to Magic Tree House #53: Shadow of the Shark will probably also be on there! So, as usual, good photos and drawings bring this to life, and it has plenty of other books, dvds, websites museums and aquariums listed for further research. Dark Day in the Deep Sea is the adventure it goes with.

[Deirdre Collins]

shedd aquarium shout out!! god these books are so fun

[Dolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is another informative book in the series of Research Guides (I see they are now called 'Fact Trackers'), companion books to the Magic Tree House stories. This book is the companion book to Dark Day in the Deep Sea. It's been almost three years since we read that book, but we remembered the crazy sea creatures that Jack and Annie met during that adventure.

This book describes sea life on various levels, including the creatures in the deepest parts of the ocean. It's not as entertaining, perhaps, as Down, Down, Down: A Journey to the Bottom of the Sea by Steve Jenkins, but it's still a good way to learn more about the ocean. The details are not overwhelming and it's a good way for children to get more background information after reading one of the Jack and Annie tales.

I think these books are great for elementary school-age children, especially if they are doing a report or want to learn more about a topic. We enjoyed reading it together - another fun library ebook read on our iPad.

[Abby Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

An accessible introduction to the various creatures living in the deep sea, this book highlights the creatures that live in the deep sea and the ancient creatures that once lived in the deep sea. This is a great choice for recreational nonfiction reading and it includes many tips about doing further research.

http://abbylibrarian.blogspot.com/201...

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

No setting specified. 128 pp. Excellent, informative book about creatures of the deep sea. Good assortment of photos and illustrations, pronunciation guides, and research tips. I want to read more of these!

Sea Monsters (Magic Tree House Research Guide, #17)

[Edie Walls · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had this book as a kid and read it over and over - I loved the deep sea and giant squids in particular (still do). This book does a great job of introducing concepts to young kids in an interesting and thrilling but still safe way - there are a few lines that mention that even though these deep sea animals seem scary, knowing more about them shows how interesting they are. It's a good primer into a wide variety of sea monster topics.

[Molly T · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Another solid addition to the Fact Tracker Magic Tree House books. I'm excited to hear what my niece thinks! My only qualm is that the end talked a lot about how scary the ocean and "sea monsters" are. I feel like the unknown is scary enough without a book to reiterate it.

Oh and I also got a trivia question right this week because of reading this book. My niece will get a kick out of that!

[Daphne Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

My daughter really enjoyed this Nonfiction book that also reported some of the old myths about Sea Monsters. Because of this book, when she and I were watching a bit of Finding Nemo, I asked her the name of the deep see fish with the lighted lure and asked her what kind of fish it is. She said, "Anglerfish." Wow! I would not have known that at 7.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read aloud with my youngest son. We enjoyed learning about all the creatures who inhabit the deep seas, the ones who lived in pre-historic times, and the myths and legends of sea monsters. We even delved deeper and did further study on sea animals.

[Kory Cross · Rating 5 out of 5]

SEA MONSTERS, by Mary Pope Osborne.

I think the book was really good with facts about the prehistoric era of sea monsters, the deep sea, and folk tales of monsters. I liked the folk tales a lot.


Fictional, historical, and informational

[Colin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Does what it says on the tin: a Fact Tracker about sea creatures, especially sea monsters . . .

[David Monroe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although not one of the mindset to read this series, the facts lured me in. Alas I must continue to see what else I don’t know.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Basic yet interesting book about exotic sea creatures that is easy to read and enjoy for both kids and adults.

[blueygurl2016 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this one. It was very interesting. I had never heard of some of the sea creatures so I Googled them for more information about them.

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was actually super fascinating.

[Marya · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book recaps various "sea monsters" in a factual, yet interesting tone. Mostly. Everyone once in a while, the good information (octupuses are ok, kids!) is interrupted with a dose of fear (except this one kind which is the size of an egg, so you'll never see it coming, and it'll kill you in seconds!).

[Teresa Scherping Moulton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Did you know that giant squids have beaks like parrots? Or that some marine creatures in the deep ocean can make their own light with bioluminescence? Jack and Annie have researched all about sea monsters in this nonfiction companion to the Magic Tree House book Dark Day in the Deep Sea. They'll teach you about prehistoric sea creatures, ancient legends about monsters in the ocean, and even fascinating animals we can find in salt and fresh water today. There are also scientific mysteries yet to be explained. What was the strange, underwater "Bloop" that scientists detected in 1994? The noise seemed to come from an animal bigger than a blue whale! Go along with Jack and Annie and discover the creatures inhabiting the last mysterious place on our planet - the deep, dark sea.

This is the second Magic Tree House Research Guide that I've read, and they really are great nonfiction reads for elementary schoolers. This topic of Sea Monsters probably has higher appeal than some of the other titles in the series, especially since it covers various topics like dinosaurs, modern animals, and ancient mysteries. Although it's not the first in the series, this book might be a good one with which to start grabbing kids' interest.

I would recommend this book to kids in grades 2-4. Anyone who is interested in animals, dinosaurs, creepy or gross facts, science, or mysteries would enjoy this. The whole series is great for kids at this reading level who want or need to find readable nonfiction.

[Peter · Rating 3 out of 5]

In 2008, Mary Pope Osborne and her sister Natalie Pope Boyce published the Magic Tree House Fact Trackers entitled Sea Monsters. This book is a nonfiction research guide to the book entitled Dark Days in the Deep Sea by Mary Pope Osborne which was published in 2008. Despite the title this book is more about the real-life “animals of the deep sea.” Only the last chapter entitled Sea Monster Tales” (Osborne & Boyce 95-109). The book covers ocean exploration, squids, octopuses, manta rays, stingrays, catfish, and jellyfish. Chapter 4 is on “Creatures of the Deep Ocean” (Osborne & Boyce 59-78). Chapter 5 is on “prehistoric seas” (79-94). Osborne’s and Boyce’s book is a well-done introduction to the “animals of the deep sea.” The is probably a little older in the fact that there is new information about the “animals of the deep sea” all of the time. The illustrator for this book was Sal Murdocca. Similar to the other books in the Magic Tree House Fact Trackers series, the book has a section on how to do more research for young readers about the “animals of the deep sea.” The book has an index and includes photo credits. The book had a biologist consultant, a paleontologist consultant, and an educational consultant. I believe Osborne’s and Boyce’s Sea Monsters is a well-done introduction, but an older introduction to the “animals of the deep sea.”

[Sarah - All The Book Blog Names Are Taken]

Momma says: I like that this book addressed both real creatures and the myths about monsters. I loved the shoutout to Nessie. I have been on a boat on Loch Ness and just being out on the water it is 100% easy to see why people think there’s something in the water there. It’s an absolutely beautiful landscape but it’s also very surreal and magical. I definitely think there is something in the water there.

Eleanor says: I don’t think Nessie is real, but I do think Nessie is real. I can’t decide. I loved learning about all the creatures that live in the oceans and lakes. There are some really weird looking fish. Some are so gross and mom and I did not like them.

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

I honsestly think it should deserve four, even though I put it for five. It is just that it is a good book, but also that it is pretty scary thinking about all those other sea creatures that are kind of scary. It still was a good book. At least I learned about different kinds of creatures that people think they are monsters, but they really are not.I really liked it so much that I still gave it five stars.

[Tiffany Askins · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sea Monsters shares information about all the sea monsters that inhabit the deep dark parts of the sea. I used this book as an accompaniment to another Mary Pope Osborne that my lower readers read in book club. Actually, they stumbled on this book in our classroom library and became really excited to read it.

[Ali · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is from Dark Day In The Deep Sea. There are a lot of amazing facts about this book. One fact is that scientists see scars on whales from tentacles of a Giant Squid that the whale fought. I think the creatures that live in the bottom of the ocean are all pretty weird.

I really like this book. It has a lot of good research of the creatures in the ocean in it.

[Tara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always say this, but, really, I love these books. They’re so interesting. This one has some great short profiles of deep sea creatures, both current and prehistoric. I like the pictures the best. I also like the short summaries of documented sea monster stories and the illustrations that accompanied them. Great stuff!

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like the book becaes it tout me thing's a about the ocen that I nerver new. I like the part whaer it tels a about the squied that is biger then the gint squied. It olso takes about the sieting of sae mouster I really injoyed that part.

[Dodo P · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have a lot of fun and learn all kinds of interesting tidbits reading these companion books. The stories are fantastic and the companion books are super cool for learning the real stuff behind the stories. LOVE the entire series!

[Kaylee]

Mrs. Kromminga read it to me does that even count LOL :):):):):):):):):):):):)

KAYLEE

[Blaine Nielsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this rsrch gdes it toks all a bout the stras crsas that live depe in the sea and a bout how they find ther food. And a bout a loot of talse of siting of sea monsters.

[Timothy]

love it

[Zion · Rating 5 out of 5]

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