Weird But True! Ocean

Weird but True! Topics

by National Geographic Kids

Dive into these fishy facts: Did you know that the prehistoric shark, megalodon, had jaws so big that it could swallow a car? Or that goats, pigs, dogs, cats, and even an alpaca have all learned how to surf? And if that's not weird enough for ya, one man even rowed solo across the Pacific Ocean for 312 days!
In this book filled with 300 wacky facts and pictures, you'll glimpse the ocean's weirdest wildlife, uncover shocking shipwrecks, and meet sensational seafarers, from pirates and sailors to ground-breaking marine scientists. Perfect for ocean enthusiasts and trivia-loving landlubbers alike!

Genres: Nonfiction, Science, Animals, Childrens, History, Education, Nature

208 pages, Paperback

Published June 8, 2021

About the author

With more than 600 titles—including the popular Weird But True franchise and the New York Times Best Selling National Geographic Kids Almanac—National Geographic Kids Books is the recognized leader in nonfiction for kids. Published in 28 languages, NGK Books reaches approximately 85 million kids every year.

Offering K-12 educators resources that align to and support the Common Core State Standards, National Geographic has a long history of providing high-quality informational texts suitable for primary, upper elementary, and middle school English language arts, social studies, and science classrooms.

Reviews

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This delightful collection of facts and photographs will entertain and educate in equal measure. While ships, landforms, and history are featured, most of this book focus specifically on animals in the ocean. Each piece of trivia is short, often just a single sentence, so reading is quick, and even reluctant readers can find something of interest. There are no lengthy explanations. This is a good thing for this type of book, but there were a few entries for which I would have liked more information. For example, one spread features an ocean-themed bowling alley with fancy and complicated decorations, yet the book does not state the name of the alley or even the country in which it is found. Still, for the most part, this format works well. Full-color pictures enhance the experience.

[Mayda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is certainly aimed at kids, but I bet adults will enjoy it, too, and everyone will learn something along the way. The full color photos are fantastic and eye catching. Part of the “Weird But True Series” from National Geographic, the facts in this collection are truly unusual. I discovered that seaweed can have more protein than chicken, (but can you barbecue it?), and seahorse couples dance together every morning, (well, they don’t have to go to work, do they?). It’s quite a fascinating collection of facts that’s sure to enhance your next trivia game!

[Brittny's Book Talk · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you want nightmares look up 'frilled sharks' and 'gulper eels'

[Sarah]

Would y’all believe me if I said I’m writing a paper on this book

[Stacie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Weird but True! books from National Geographic are favorites among kids. They are small, square books that easily fit into a child’s hands. They have vivid, colorful photography, and bold colored, large size fonts to entice kids to keep turning the pages. Kids won’t even realize they are learning because reading these books are so much fun.

It’s so hard to imagine all the amazing creatures that live and roam in the ocean. Scientists estimate that less than 10% of all ocean species have been classified. So, we have so much to learn about our oceans. With 300 facts and pictures, kids will learn about the weirdest fish, some amazing experiments, and learn about other animals that depend on the ocean for food.

I had no idea how important ocean plants were until I read that they provide half of our Earth’s oxygen. Let’s keep our oceans free of pollution and keep those plants alive!

Kids always like it when animals do silly things with body parts, like the sea cucumbers who breathe through their rear end. Yeti crabs trap food in their hairy arms. Parrotfish can poop out hundreds of pounds of sand a year. Oh, and those white-sand beaches in Hawaii? They are largely made from parrotfish poop.

The blue whale, the largest animal to have lived on Earth, has a heartbeat of only ten times a minute. Sperm whales make “click” sounds that are louder than a jet taking off.

These are just a few of the fun facts that I learned while reading the book. If you are planning a trip to the beach, this book would be great for keeping your child busy on the flight or in the car. Plus they are reading and learning while having fun! Its small size makes it easy for packing and reading no matter where you go.

[Beth Rodgers · Rating 5 out of 5]

'Weird but True! Ocean: 300 Fin-Tastic Facts from the Deep Blue Sea' by National Geographic Kids is rife with incredibly interesting, engaging, and fantastically strange, but true facts about the ocean. From learning how penguins can jump up to 10 feet from water to ice to escape predators, to the fact that seahorse couples dance together every morning and entwine tails to stay together, to how there is a fish with a light on its head to see its prey, there is so much to learn.

There are so many other 'Weird but True!' books about dinosaurs, ancient Egypt, and so much more. The book will make you think not only about the fact that each item is true, but about how science and nature can come together to create awesome knowledge. Take the fact that less than 5% of the ocean has been explored, and that scientists estimate how less than 10% of ocean species have been classified, or how coral reefs exist on less than 1% of the ocean floor. That's right—think about that!

National Geographic provides something for everyone interested in 'Weird but True!' trivia in this thoroughly enjoyable read!

Beth Rodgers, Author of ‘Welcome to Chanu-Con!,’ a Children's Picture Book, and ‘Freshman Fourteen’ and ‘Sweet Fifteen,’ Young Adult Novels

*Review originally posted at YABooksCentral.com*

[K.L. Bernard · Rating 5 out of 5]

National Geographic Kids has put together some fun and interesting weird facts about the ocean kids will love. Young readers will see an amazing photo of the Sunflower Sea Star which is born with five arms but can grow up to twenty-four arms. There are plenty of other fun facts all throughout this handy guide. Did you know that a jellyfish protein was used to make ice cream glow when a person licked it? Sea cucumbers breathe through their butts. The earth’s largest waterfall is underground between Greenland and Iceland. Horeshoe crabs are relatives of spiders and they have blue blood.

Parents and teachers can give this fun fact filled book as a gift or share it when traveling. Each page is filled with vivid imagery and illustrations sharing the story of the weird and wild fun facts concerning all things in and around the ocean.

[Vera Godley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a small book that packs a punch presenting scores of interesting and weird facts about the World's oceans. Interesting....

✔The Blue Whale's heart beats only 10 times per minute.
✔Hammerhead Shark can move it's head up and down (to pin stingrays to ocean floor) as well as sideways.
✔The Pacific Ocean is 5 times wider than the Moon.

So many that the young reader will shout out to Mom and Dad, "Hey, did you know......"

Great take-along book for trips!

I received a complimentary copy to facilitate a review. Opinions are mine, alone and are freely given.

[Elizabeth Reid · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sea cucumbers breathe through their rears. My kids thought that was hilarious piece of information.

There's a restaurant in the Maldives where you can eat dinner 6 feet under the ocean? It's called Subsix and has windows at the tables, so diners can watch fish swim by.

Weird but True!: Ocean is not a book on oceanography or marine biology. It is, however, a fun book with amazing photos that accompany each interesting ocean-related fact. And, in case...

Read the rest of my review here: http://agoodreid.blogspot.com/2021/08...

[Mia · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fun book! I always enjoy random facts (and Nat Geo always has good book options). Also, considering I'm obsessed with ocean critters, I found this book continuously enjoyable. Because it contains "300 fin-tastic facts from the deep blue sea", this book is not really something you sit down and read cover to cover. Rather, it would be a great book for your coffee table or a waiting room. It would also be fun resource for a school or library event that deals with sea animals. Highly recommend for those who love weird random facts and are interested in ocean creatures!

[Becky B · Rating 4 out of 5]

A collection of miscellaneous facts about the ocean, ocean creatures, ocean exploration, and ocean-themed other things.

There were several of these that talked about a place or creature and didn't display a picture of that place or creature which is unusual for NatGeo. I was a little disappointed as I wanted to see what they were talking about. For the most part, though, this is loaded with great photos and interested facts perfect for your favorite middle grade sponge for random info.

[Two BookWorms Blog · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you reading about or studying the ocean, this book would be a nice compliment. It may not be as serious a volume, but it would provide some interesting additional facts and kids just love this type of information.

For the full review: https://twobookwormsblog.wordpress.co...

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Boy, kids really like these books! And now I see why as I read my first one cover-to-cover. The pictures are great (it IS Nat Geo after all!). The facts are interesting, and I learned a few things. I think kids might be confused about parts of it because they don't have the vocabulary or background experience, but if they are interested in the subject they'll most likely try to find out more.

[noli · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always enjoy National Geographic, but one thing is wrong with the kid's books; there is no evidence! It will show a fact, but it won't show why something does that, or how it happens. I wish that they would add a bit more context to these books.

[Analie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The littles in my life loved the vibrant pictures and giggle-worthy facts! There are so many pages of interesting marine animals like the Blobfish and Piglet Squid that this book held their interest for quite a while.

[Sonal · Rating 5 out of 5]

The world's largest cruise ship has 20 restaurants, an ice rink, and a zip line.

[Keshia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really cool book! Lots of neat and interesting facts.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

National Geographic Weird But True books are full of wonderful facts and photos that entice kids and adults, alike, to learn fun, interesting, and sometimes wacky information.

[Alex · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute.

[Haley Kilgour · Rating 3 out of 5]

There were definitely lots of weird facts. But fun facts too.

My only gripe is when they made the text form a circle or spiral it got hard to read.

[Kelsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a really fun book to read! The facts were interesting and fun, and the photos were cool. I just wish that some of the photos were better connected to the listed facts.

[Advit Verma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Weird things are written in this book! 📚 I searched up every single thing and I found out that everything in this book is true! I am satisfied by these interesting facts! 😁 😀

[Bellatuscana Bellatuscana · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like the facts about the deep ocean. Feel like ocean infrastructure could be a little more explored.