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Deep, Deep Down: The Secret Underwater Poetry of the Mariana Trench
Deep, deep down, at the very bottom of the ocean, lies a secret world. Through lyrical narration, this spare-text STEM picture book takes readers on a journey to a place very few humans have ever been--the Mariana Trench. The imagined voyage debunks scary myths about this mysterious place with surprising and beautiful truths about life at Earth's deepest point. Deep, Deep Down shows a vibrant world far below, and teaches readers how interconnected our lives are to every place on the planet.
40 pages, Hardcover
Published January 1, 2023
1 person is currently reading
149 people want to read
About the author
Lydia Lukidis
45 books44 followersLydia Lukidis is an award-winning author of 50+ trade and educational books for children. Her titles include UP, UP HIGH: The Secret Poetry of Earth's Atmosphere (Capstone, 2025), DANCING THROUGH SPACE: Dr. Mae Jemison Soars to New Heights (Albert Whitman, 2024), and DEEP, DEEP, DOWN: The Secret Underwater Poetry of the Mariana Trench (Capstone, 2023) which was a Crystal Kite winner for the Canada and North America division, Forest of Reading Silver Birch Express Honor, a Cybils Award nominee, and winner of the Dogwood Readers Award. A science enthusiast from a young age, Lydia now incorporates her studies in science and her everlasting curiosity into her books.
Lydia is very involved in the kidlit community. She volunteers as a judge on Rate your Story, co-hosts the annual Fall Writing Frenzy competition, and is an active member of SCBWI, CANSCAIP, 12 x 12, and The Authors Guild. Another passion of hers is fostering a love for children’s literacy through the writing workshops she regularly offers in elementary schools across Quebec with the Culture in the Schools program.
Lydia is represented by literary agent Miranda Paul from the Erin Murphy Literary Agency.
For more information, please visit www.lydialukidis.com.
Lydia is very involved in the kidlit community. She volunteers as a judge on Rate your Story, co-hosts the annual Fall Writing Frenzy competition, and is an active member of SCBWI, CANSCAIP, 12 x 12, and The Authors Guild. Another passion of hers is fostering a love for children’s literacy through the writing workshops she regularly offers in elementary schools across Quebec with the Culture in the Schools program.
Lydia is represented by literary agent Miranda Paul from the Erin Murphy Literary Agency.
For more information, please visit www.lydialukidis.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 124 reviews
September 28, 2022
Deep, Deep Down
The Secret Underwater Poetry of the Mariana Trench
by Lydia Lukidis
This book is magnificent! Nothing like the intrigue of the Mariana Trench to excite and fascinate people, especially kids! The secretive, overwhelming trench, and it's hidden occupants, spur the imagination! This book breaks down the trench into zones and who lives where.
This book has incredible lifelike artwork and heightens the interest to what else may live in the dark depths. The book also has small information boxes in most pages with additional information about what is showing.
The awesome art together with the info makes this a tremendous find! Can't recommend this enough!
I want to thank the publisher and NetGalley for letting me read this terrific book!
The Secret Underwater Poetry of the Mariana Trench
by Lydia Lukidis
This book is magnificent! Nothing like the intrigue of the Mariana Trench to excite and fascinate people, especially kids! The secretive, overwhelming trench, and it's hidden occupants, spur the imagination! This book breaks down the trench into zones and who lives where.
This book has incredible lifelike artwork and heightens the interest to what else may live in the dark depths. The book also has small information boxes in most pages with additional information about what is showing.
The awesome art together with the info makes this a tremendous find! Can't recommend this enough!
I want to thank the publisher and NetGalley for letting me read this terrific book!
January 8, 2023
What a fascinating book! The spare and accessible writing and atmospheric illustrations create the feeling of journeying to the bottom of the Mariana Trench. The poetic narrative is interspersed with informative boxes of information about different sea creatures. There are so many curriculum connections that could be made--the ocean, sea life, biodiversity, poetry, art, to name a few--and I think this book will be a hit with kids. The back matter includes additional facts about the Mariana Trench along with reasons why it matters and a glossary.
December 24, 2022
I received an ARC of “Deep, Deep Down: The Secret Underwater Poetry of the Mariana Trench” from NetGalley and Capstone Publishing in exchange for an honest review.
Written by Lydia Lukidis and illustrated by Juan Calle, this picture book has a lot going on. No one can deny that this book is beautifully illustrated. All I kept saying, over and over again, was ‘Wow!’. Calle brilliantly brought the Mariana Trench to life with his exquisite art. It really was breathtaking. The Illustrations alone are worth five (5) stars. But the text…
Lukidis beautifully described the Mariana Trench. But as a picture book, I have doubts that young kids—and many adults!—are going to be able to pronounce a multitude of words. For example:
“…Glide forward,
past rows and rows
of xenophyophores,
clustered like cabbages…”
To be fair, the author included a glossary at the back of the book, and while she includes words like ‘scare’ and ‘translucent’, other important words like ‘xenophyophores’ doesn’t appear. Although the illustration clarifies what it is, children (and many adults) will still need help learning how to say it.
I believe that the biggest issue with this book is not even so much the choice of words (even though many children won’t be able to pronounce them), but the content—the concepts and the scope of the work. The author wanted to take the reader on a journey all the way to the bottom of the trench, which she did. But just a few pages after starting the book, the reader gets bombarded with information. As an adult scientist, this is *exactly* what I want, but as a children’s book, it is way too much information in one 10 minute sitting.
For example, small sidebars appeared on the pages that included the name of the creature, its length, and the depth in which it is found. However, these could have been eliminated because the same information appears at the end of the book in map form. Another example of this overload of information can be found in the information boxes that also appear throughout the book:
“…Xenophyophores are neither plants nor animals, though they’re alive. They’re single-celled organisms. But xenophyophores are gigantic, with some as big as soccer balls. Their shells are made up of bits of dirt, dead animals, rocks, and minerals stuck together with a cement-like glue that contains their poop…”
That’s a LOT of information for an eight-year-old to process. Over the years, I have had to explain the concepts of evolution to college-level students, and it wasn’t always easy for them to grasp at first. If I had overloaded them with all of the evidence, they would have been overwhelmed and wouldn’t have really understood the science. Instead, I introduced the concepts to them bit-by-bit, piece-by-piece over a semester. I can’t imagine trying to explain algae, bacteria, TMAO (trimethylamine N-oxide), and amphipods to children aged 8-10 in just a few minutes.
If the author had focused on a single important concept, such as depth level or light, or on a specific species, and carried that concept/species throughout the book, it would have created a better learning experience for children. Instead, so much information will, I believe, result in a myriad of unanswered questions unless those children have the gift of having parents who are marine biologists.
I want to be clear that Lukidis should be applauded for attempting to introduce young children to the wonders of the Mariana Trench. But in her quest to do so, I believe children will be left with the same watery eyes that I’ve seen on many a graduate student after reading Darwin’s “On the Origin of Species.”
Written by Lydia Lukidis and illustrated by Juan Calle, this picture book has a lot going on. No one can deny that this book is beautifully illustrated. All I kept saying, over and over again, was ‘Wow!’. Calle brilliantly brought the Mariana Trench to life with his exquisite art. It really was breathtaking. The Illustrations alone are worth five (5) stars. But the text…
Lukidis beautifully described the Mariana Trench. But as a picture book, I have doubts that young kids—and many adults!—are going to be able to pronounce a multitude of words. For example:
“…Glide forward,
past rows and rows
of xenophyophores,
clustered like cabbages…”
To be fair, the author included a glossary at the back of the book, and while she includes words like ‘scare’ and ‘translucent’, other important words like ‘xenophyophores’ doesn’t appear. Although the illustration clarifies what it is, children (and many adults) will still need help learning how to say it.
I believe that the biggest issue with this book is not even so much the choice of words (even though many children won’t be able to pronounce them), but the content—the concepts and the scope of the work. The author wanted to take the reader on a journey all the way to the bottom of the trench, which she did. But just a few pages after starting the book, the reader gets bombarded with information. As an adult scientist, this is *exactly* what I want, but as a children’s book, it is way too much information in one 10 minute sitting.
For example, small sidebars appeared on the pages that included the name of the creature, its length, and the depth in which it is found. However, these could have been eliminated because the same information appears at the end of the book in map form. Another example of this overload of information can be found in the information boxes that also appear throughout the book:
“…Xenophyophores are neither plants nor animals, though they’re alive. They’re single-celled organisms. But xenophyophores are gigantic, with some as big as soccer balls. Their shells are made up of bits of dirt, dead animals, rocks, and minerals stuck together with a cement-like glue that contains their poop…”
That’s a LOT of information for an eight-year-old to process. Over the years, I have had to explain the concepts of evolution to college-level students, and it wasn’t always easy for them to grasp at first. If I had overloaded them with all of the evidence, they would have been overwhelmed and wouldn’t have really understood the science. Instead, I introduced the concepts to them bit-by-bit, piece-by-piece over a semester. I can’t imagine trying to explain algae, bacteria, TMAO (trimethylamine N-oxide), and amphipods to children aged 8-10 in just a few minutes.
If the author had focused on a single important concept, such as depth level or light, or on a specific species, and carried that concept/species throughout the book, it would have created a better learning experience for children. Instead, so much information will, I believe, result in a myriad of unanswered questions unless those children have the gift of having parents who are marine biologists.
I want to be clear that Lukidis should be applauded for attempting to introduce young children to the wonders of the Mariana Trench. But in her quest to do so, I believe children will be left with the same watery eyes that I’ve seen on many a graduate student after reading Darwin’s “On the Origin of Species.”
October 30, 2022
Did you know that there is a place in the western Pacific Ocean that is an incredibly 36,000 feet deep and has been visited by fewer people than have visited the moon? It is as technically hard to visit the Mariana Trench as it is to fly into space. I needed to know more about this wondrous trench, so I found Deep, Deep Down and got the lowdown.
I want to guess scientist had a hand in writing this book, because it methodically presents the details about the depth, the trench's inhabitants, and its alien environment with crisp illustrations to bring it all alive. Whether you're 7 or 70, you'll certainly share in the amazement that comes with learning about how any creature could live seven miles below sea level.
I want to guess scientist had a hand in writing this book, because it methodically presents the details about the depth, the trench's inhabitants, and its alien environment with crisp illustrations to bring it all alive. Whether you're 7 or 70, you'll certainly share in the amazement that comes with learning about how any creature could live seven miles below sea level.
May 4, 2025
Starts off with a fairly scary graphic with vampire squid, seadevil anglerfish and giant goblin shark. These are not the deep creatures in the Mariana Trench, so I thought this was not a welcoming way to start this book.
The subtitle of this book, 'the secret underwater poetry of the Mariana Trench' implied more poetry in here. Simply indenting some of the lines, maybe repeating 'plunge plunge plunge' barely qualifies as 'poetry' though.
Nicely informative, but I didn't like that scary beginning.
4*
The subtitle of this book, 'the secret underwater poetry of the Mariana Trench' implied more poetry in here. Simply indenting some of the lines, maybe repeating 'plunge plunge plunge' barely qualifies as 'poetry' though.
Nicely informative, but I didn't like that scary beginning.
4*
September 12, 2022
With a lyricism that submerges us in the beauty of a secret place that some believed was the lair of monsters, Lydia Lukidis transforms the pitch-dark world of the deepest place in the ocean into a garden of wonder. Using layered text, the first layer being a lyrical description as a submersible descends through the water column and what's seen out its portholes, and the second layer including more detailed information (also written more lyrically than most exposition) about the specific creatures observed and their depth in the ocean. It is a lovely peek into this mysterious place, like space, where few have ever ventured. Back matter includes a cross-section illustration of the trench and where the creatures mentioned in the text are found in the water column, and a page of Q+A that deepens the reader's perspective about the trench, including a paragraph about water pressure at depth and why it's so hard to explore, how little food there is for those who live within the trench, and an explanation of how it first formed. The illustrations create an air of mystery and the feeling that we're moving through the water along with the submersible. A gorgeous book! This review is based on a PDF ARC supplied by the publisher.
December 10, 2023
This picture book is a great way to encourage young people to care about the earth, specifically sea creatures. It's short enough to hold the attention of young readers (or screen-addicted readers of all ages.) But Deep, Deep Down has layers of information through text and images that it invites sustained attention beyond just "getting through the story." It's beautiful and engaging.
Author Lydia Lukidis and illustrator Juan Calle take readers on an adventure to the bottom of the Mariana Trench, "the deepest underwater valley in the world."
Before tagging along with a submersible, readers are posed a series of questions accompanied with richly colored realistic drawings of a vampire squid, a seadeevil anglerfish, and a giant goblin shark (interesting sea creatures who live in above the level of the trench) to help prepare them to watch out for less-often observed creatures.
This preview sets the tone for an adventure, a journey promising to be educational and a little bit scary.
The narrative and illustrations are organized by the depth of the trench. As we follow the submersible down, we enter darker and darker waters and meet stranger and stranger sea creatures.
Seven sea creatures are introduced with lyric prose on one side of an open page (usually recto) with a textbox (usually verso) that has more detail that an adult (family member, teacher, librarian) might read.
I had a passing familiarity with just a few of these creatures, so I was very engaged in learning more about the amphipod and sea cucumber while being introduced to the rattail, cutthroat eel, crinoid, snailfish, and xenophyophore.
Did you know that "Rattails have rich, fatty livers that help them survive when they can't find enough food"? I learned similarly incredulous facts about the other six featured inhabitants of the Mariana Trench.
After "meeting" the xenophyophore," the submersible begins the ascent while musing on the significance of the adventure:
"The Mariana Trench,
a world of wonder and
surprise,
teems with life.
Its divers creatures flow
and dance with the currents,
gracefully,
like underwater poetry."
The first item in the backmatter includes a drawing that shows a cutaway of the ocean with the shore at the top and the Mariana Trench at the bottom with the shallow and deep (but not world-record deep) waters between. At each level there are drawings of creatures from a diver in the shallowest waters and the neither plant nor animal xenophyophore. If I were reading this book as a librarian, teacher, or family member, I would actually show young readers this picture first as a preview.
Other backmatter includes a set of additional facts ("Did You Know?"), a one-page explanation of biodiversity and ecosystems ("Why Does the Mariana Trench Matter?" an author's note, acknowledgements, and a glossary.
Author Lydia Lukidis and illustrator Juan Calle take readers on an adventure to the bottom of the Mariana Trench, "the deepest underwater valley in the world."
Before tagging along with a submersible, readers are posed a series of questions accompanied with richly colored realistic drawings of a vampire squid, a seadeevil anglerfish, and a giant goblin shark (interesting sea creatures who live in above the level of the trench) to help prepare them to watch out for less-often observed creatures.
This preview sets the tone for an adventure, a journey promising to be educational and a little bit scary.
The narrative and illustrations are organized by the depth of the trench. As we follow the submersible down, we enter darker and darker waters and meet stranger and stranger sea creatures.
Seven sea creatures are introduced with lyric prose on one side of an open page (usually recto) with a textbox (usually verso) that has more detail that an adult (family member, teacher, librarian) might read.
I had a passing familiarity with just a few of these creatures, so I was very engaged in learning more about the amphipod and sea cucumber while being introduced to the rattail, cutthroat eel, crinoid, snailfish, and xenophyophore.
Did you know that "Rattails have rich, fatty livers that help them survive when they can't find enough food"? I learned similarly incredulous facts about the other six featured inhabitants of the Mariana Trench.
After "meeting" the xenophyophore," the submersible begins the ascent while musing on the significance of the adventure:
"The Mariana Trench,
a world of wonder and
surprise,
teems with life.
Its divers creatures flow
and dance with the currents,
gracefully,
like underwater poetry."
The first item in the backmatter includes a drawing that shows a cutaway of the ocean with the shore at the top and the Mariana Trench at the bottom with the shallow and deep (but not world-record deep) waters between. At each level there are drawings of creatures from a diver in the shallowest waters and the neither plant nor animal xenophyophore. If I were reading this book as a librarian, teacher, or family member, I would actually show young readers this picture first as a preview.
Other backmatter includes a set of additional facts ("Did You Know?"), a one-page explanation of biodiversity and ecosystems ("Why Does the Mariana Trench Matter?" an author's note, acknowledgements, and a glossary.
October 26, 2022
Deep, Deep Down
The Secret Underwater Poetry of the Mariana Trench
by Lydia Lukidis
Earc: NetGalley
Publisher : Capstone Editions
Publication Date : 01 Jan 2023
Genre :Children's Non fiction, Science
This book reads like an evocative, mesmerising poem, describing a truly mysterious part of our planet. I would recommend schools to buy this for their libraries. This book would work so well for children that have difficulty with reading, or difficulty with focussing on long texts. But it is also wonderful for advanced readers. Every word counts, Every word seems to have been chosen lovingly for both its descriptiveness, as well as its sound. (And would work as a book to read aloud, too.)
At no point does the text feel patronising, as some books for children, and particularly book for children with reading difficulties do. A reader of any age, and of any reading ability feels welcomed to join this underwater adventure.
The illustrations are so beautiful, and could be read by themselves (without understanding the text). It would still provide a beautiful dive down to a magical place, and a meeting with fascinating creatures.
#DeepDeepDown #NetGalley #bookstagram #bookreview #goodreads #youngreaders #science
November 24, 2022
Mariana Trench, which has 10.000 meters of depth, holds a unique selection of animal lives; but what species can you find there, and what is it like living underneath a water pressure that are 1.100 times higher than at sea level?
Those and more questions are answered in this little but important book about the Mariana Trench. Admittedly, I didn’t have much clue about this part of the ocean. It was quite fascinating to read about it with wonderful poetry and illustrations. I always very much liked the facts written at the end of the book.
I think young readers who are fascinated by the ocean/Mariana Trench, or those who want to pick this up and learn something new will love this! It’s simple and fun reading!
Happy reading!♥️
I got this book for free from netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.
Those and more questions are answered in this little but important book about the Mariana Trench. Admittedly, I didn’t have much clue about this part of the ocean. It was quite fascinating to read about it with wonderful poetry and illustrations. I always very much liked the facts written at the end of the book.
I think young readers who are fascinated by the ocean/Mariana Trench, or those who want to pick this up and learn something new will love this! It’s simple and fun reading!
Happy reading!♥️
I got this book for free from netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.
October 3, 2022
This book takes you on a journey you may otherwise never experience - 37,000 feet deep down into the Mariana Trench! The lyrical text was equally engaging and educational. The illustrations were absolutely stunning. The entire book felt like an escape and I discovered new creatures and/or facts with every page turn. This is the perfect book to help children understand the earth is much, much, bigger and much, much deeper than what we see and experience in our daily lives. And the author's notes appropriately bring home why learning about the oceanic ecosystem is so important for us all. A great book for any classroom, library or home hoping to expand its STEM library and promote environmental consciousness.
October 9, 2022
So cool! Honestly, I’ve always been equal parts fascinated and terrified of what lives deep within the Mariana Trench. This picture book taught me about creatures I never even heard of! With it’s poetic writing, and beautiful illustrations, this is definitely a book I would recommend for early STEM readers.
I particularly loved the fact boxes about the creatures themselves, especially how even within its science-y wording, one can find the word Poop more than once.
Thank you so very much to Netgalley and Capstone publishing for the opportunity to read and review this book!
I particularly loved the fact boxes about the creatures themselves, especially how even within its science-y wording, one can find the word Poop more than once.
Thank you so very much to Netgalley and Capstone publishing for the opportunity to read and review this book!
September 13, 2022
What a gorgeous, layered book! On the face of it is an expository text about the Mariana Trench... but like the trench itself, the writing is layered and filled with mystery!
A submersible descends lower and lower into a column of water-- will there be any sea life that can withstand the extreme pressure of the water above? Although sea life and food is scarce, the sea creatures that do survive are amazingly adapted to their surroundings.
Lydia's lyrical text is sparse, just like the sea life and the factual information is just enough to intrigue and inform simultaneously. Leaves a reader amazed at the creatures and beauty of this unique trench.
I reviewed an ARC provided by the publisher.
A submersible descends lower and lower into a column of water-- will there be any sea life that can withstand the extreme pressure of the water above? Although sea life and food is scarce, the sea creatures that do survive are amazingly adapted to their surroundings.
Lydia's lyrical text is sparse, just like the sea life and the factual information is just enough to intrigue and inform simultaneously. Leaves a reader amazed at the creatures and beauty of this unique trench.
I reviewed an ARC provided by the publisher.
September 12, 2022
DEEP, DEEP DOWN: THE SECRET UNDERWATER POETRY OF THE MARIANA TRENCH is an engaging way for children to learn about the Mariana trench and its inhabitants. There is such a lovely rhythm to the text, with wonderful word choice that evokes vivid images. Further, the text pairs perfectly with the colorful, life-like illustrations.
DEEP, DEEP DOWN is packed with facts and information for kids who love learning about the sea. Small asides on each page offer information on various creatures, while the detailed back matter provides in-depth background on the trench, it's creatures, and why it matters.
This book brings the mystery, magic, and wonder of the Mariana trench to life. Highly recommend!!
***I accessed an advance copy of the book from the author.
DEEP, DEEP DOWN is packed with facts and information for kids who love learning about the sea. Small asides on each page offer information on various creatures, while the detailed back matter provides in-depth background on the trench, it's creatures, and why it matters.
This book brings the mystery, magic, and wonder of the Mariana trench to life. Highly recommend!!
***I accessed an advance copy of the book from the author.
October 6, 2022
The mysteries of the Mariana Trench and the denizens of the deep are evocatively revealed in Lukidis’ poetic words and Velez’s almost photographic illustratrations. Sidebars set next to lyrical text provide us with a deeper window into the fascinating creatures that inhabit this largely unknown world. Whether they are drawn to the ocean or not, this book will surely delight and engage young readers eager to dive into non-fiction and expand their horizons. Who knew that the Mariana Trench was full of ooey-gooey creatures? Well, if you read this treasure trove of a book, you will discover this and more!
March 2, 2023
wonderfully educational for any kid interested in the deep sea, with beautiful artwork to match!
February 1, 2024
A beautiful and interesting book that kindles curiosity about the ocean. I really enjoyed the poetry and that it was peppered with facts about the different creatures. Highly recommended.
February 29, 2024
Very nice book that really makes the reader feel immersed in the discovery of what loves in the deepest place on earth.
I would have liked some more basic stats on the creatures we saw (little boxes of infuriation would explain they could live in the pressure and I’m like I know like is this a foot long????) but altogether really great art with some great immersive nonfiction.
I would have liked some more basic stats on the creatures we saw (little boxes of infuriation would explain they could live in the pressure and I’m like I know like is this a foot long????) but altogether really great art with some great immersive nonfiction.
September 27, 2022
This beautiful picture book celebrates both the mystery and the science of the Mariana Trench--the deepest ocean valley on earth. With lyrical, moody prose and a second-person point of view, Lukidis puts the reader into a journey into the darkest deepness in the sea. And even though the science is revealed (supported by layered text), a sense of awe pervades the entire book. The luminous illustrations are wonderful, too. And don't miss the back matter. The whole book is an enchanting journey.
September 26, 2022
Wow! Deep, Deep Down invites readers to join an expedition into the depths of the mysterious Mariana Trench. Beautiful, lyrical language is layered with additional facts which provide just the right amount of information for each spread. The illustrations are absolutely stunning as well.
September 18, 2022
This is such a beautiful book. Lydia Lukidis's lovely lyrical language and Juan Calle's gorgeous illustrations explore the mysteries of the Mariana Trench, the deepest ocean trench on earth. The words and pictures take you on a trip in a submersible to discover the treasures of the trench. Reading this alone or aloud to a child, you will feel like you are on a quest for discovery. Aside from the poetic "trip" on which Lukidis takes the reader, she shares scientific facts about what is seen from the submersible. This makes the book enjoyable and interesting to readers of all ages. I highly recommend this book.
December 9, 2022
Let some of the mysteries of the ocean be revealed!
Surviving in such an extreme environment isn’t easy. I was intrigued by the many different adaptations the fish and other animals in the Mariana Trench had evolved in order to withstand things like limited food supplies and heavy underwater pressure. These were some of the most educational and descriptive lines of the tale. I could easily imagine exactly what the author was talking about, and it made me want to dive even deeper into this subject.
One of the things I enjoyed the most about this picture book was the deep respect it held for nature and other living beings. Whether it was describing specific creatures who live in the Mariana Trench or discussing how dark and freezing cold it is there, the narrator always spoke gently of the topics at hand and gave them the attention they deserved. There was no need to sensationalize what’s down there because the truth was more than incredible enough on its own.
What happens on the surface or in shallower waters trickles down to life at the bottom of the ocean. I should leave the specifics of that up to other readers to discover for themselves, but I can say that I learned a few new things about how connected we all are on this fragile planet. It’s amazing to think that one decision or event can echo so far through the food chain, yet that is exactly what happens every single day.
Deep, Deep, Down: The Secret Underwater Poetry of the Mariana Trench was a lyrical read that I’d heartily recommend to kids and adults alike.
Surviving in such an extreme environment isn’t easy. I was intrigued by the many different adaptations the fish and other animals in the Mariana Trench had evolved in order to withstand things like limited food supplies and heavy underwater pressure. These were some of the most educational and descriptive lines of the tale. I could easily imagine exactly what the author was talking about, and it made me want to dive even deeper into this subject.
One of the things I enjoyed the most about this picture book was the deep respect it held for nature and other living beings. Whether it was describing specific creatures who live in the Mariana Trench or discussing how dark and freezing cold it is there, the narrator always spoke gently of the topics at hand and gave them the attention they deserved. There was no need to sensationalize what’s down there because the truth was more than incredible enough on its own.
What happens on the surface or in shallower waters trickles down to life at the bottom of the ocean. I should leave the specifics of that up to other readers to discover for themselves, but I can say that I learned a few new things about how connected we all are on this fragile planet. It’s amazing to think that one decision or event can echo so far through the food chain, yet that is exactly what happens every single day.
Deep, Deep, Down: The Secret Underwater Poetry of the Mariana Trench was a lyrical read that I’d heartily recommend to kids and adults alike.
January 10, 2023
For anyone seeking to supplement an ocean animals study with learning about the animals of the Maria Trench, you don’t need to look any further than Deep, Deep Down by Lydia Lukidis, illustrated by Juan Calle (Capstone, 2023). This nonfiction poetic picture book does a wonderful job of matching its intended audience with tone, text, and illustrations.
In the author’s note to Deep, Deep Down, Lukidis writes that once she learned about the creatures in the Mariana Trench, she was surprised to find that they were slow and graceful, not monsters. Her picture book, which is subtitled The Secret Underwater Poetry of the Mariana Trench, perfectly captures this lovely feeling, with poetic text describing the animals and a feeling silence and reverence as an imaginary submersible sinks to the bottom of the Challenger Deep.
Lukidis adds informational sidebars to give more details about the creatures, with just the right amount of text. Even if I read the sidebars at the same time as the more lyrical text, it still works well to read together. Younger children may simply enjoy the poetry as they read with a parent. Older children would enjoy both.
Along with the text, there are simply gorgeous and (is this the right word?) cute illustrations of these creatures. Who would have thought the creatures like the snailfish, the crinoid, and the single-celled xenophyophore (which makes a solid structure out of its poop) would appear so lovely and friendly? This illustrator did a wonderful job of matching the feel of the author’s text with a gentle illustration style.
Although I know very little about the Mariana Trench, I know even less about the animals of the very deep. Even as an adult I learned something from Deep, Deep Down. End matter answers some basic questions about the Mariana Trench, as well as shares some reasons why further exploration is useful to the world.
I felt the text did a great job of reminding a young reader that there is always more to research. Maybe they can be the next scientist to do so!
I received a digital review copy of this book.
In the author’s note to Deep, Deep Down, Lukidis writes that once she learned about the creatures in the Mariana Trench, she was surprised to find that they were slow and graceful, not monsters. Her picture book, which is subtitled The Secret Underwater Poetry of the Mariana Trench, perfectly captures this lovely feeling, with poetic text describing the animals and a feeling silence and reverence as an imaginary submersible sinks to the bottom of the Challenger Deep.
Lukidis adds informational sidebars to give more details about the creatures, with just the right amount of text. Even if I read the sidebars at the same time as the more lyrical text, it still works well to read together. Younger children may simply enjoy the poetry as they read with a parent. Older children would enjoy both.
Along with the text, there are simply gorgeous and (is this the right word?) cute illustrations of these creatures. Who would have thought the creatures like the snailfish, the crinoid, and the single-celled xenophyophore (which makes a solid structure out of its poop) would appear so lovely and friendly? This illustrator did a wonderful job of matching the feel of the author’s text with a gentle illustration style.
Although I know very little about the Mariana Trench, I know even less about the animals of the very deep. Even as an adult I learned something from Deep, Deep Down. End matter answers some basic questions about the Mariana Trench, as well as shares some reasons why further exploration is useful to the world.
I felt the text did a great job of reminding a young reader that there is always more to research. Maybe they can be the next scientist to do so!
I received a digital review copy of this book.
January 26, 2023
Deep, Deep Down: The Secret Underwater Poetry of the Mariana Trench was written by Lydia Lukidis and illustrated by Juan Calle. Deep, deep down, at the very bottom of the ocean, lies a secret world. Through lyrical narration, this spare-text STEM picture book takes readers on a journey to a place very few humans have ever been—the Mariana Trench. The imagined voyage debunks scary myths about this mysterious place with surprising and beautiful truths about life at Earth's deepest point. Deep, Deep Down shows a vibrant world far below, and teaches readers how interconnected our lives are to every place on the planet.
Deep, Deep Down is a beautifully illustrated book that captures the mysterious creatures and habitat deep in the ocean. The artwork is realistic, but still carries a touch of cartoonish edging. The words are few, but have a nice cadence and flow well. I also liked the boxes of detailed information of the creatures featured in the book, as well as the markers as to the depth and pictured creatures on just about every page. These pieces of information are great for the interested and curious, and might spark more interest in younger readers, while they do not distract those that are just interested in the artwork and narration. In the same vein, I like the additional information and glossary that are included at the end of the book. I think the only thing that was missing was a list of resources for further investigation of the subject matter. I think because of this the book will stand up well to multiple readings and a wider range of age groups.
Deep, Deep Down is a beautifully illustrated book that captures the mysterious creatures and habitat deep in the ocean. The artwork is realistic, but still carries a touch of cartoonish edging. The words are few, but have a nice cadence and flow well. I also liked the boxes of detailed information of the creatures featured in the book, as well as the markers as to the depth and pictured creatures on just about every page. These pieces of information are great for the interested and curious, and might spark more interest in younger readers, while they do not distract those that are just interested in the artwork and narration. In the same vein, I like the additional information and glossary that are included at the end of the book. I think the only thing that was missing was a list of resources for further investigation of the subject matter. I think because of this the book will stand up well to multiple readings and a wider range of age groups.
May 17, 2023
I love it when a book gives me a new way to think about our planet. Deep, Deep Down introduced me to a whole new place in our world, a place of imagination, of excitement, danger, survival and mystery. The Mariana Trench is the very deepest spot on the Earth, deeper than the tallest mountain is high, and this fabulous book takes me right there. Only a small handful of people have ever actually been there — about as many as have been to the moon –– so it is only through stories that we can travel to these inner depths. But what great stories! Who knew that there were fish called Rattails who could go 200 days without eating? Or that the graceful Crinoids can be found “twirling and whirling/ like an underwater acrobat”? Best of all are the Xenophyophores: “Their shells are made up of bits of dirt, dead animals, rocks and minerals stuck together with a cement-like glue that contains their poop.” I defy any young reader not to love that! Lydia Lukidis reveals the Mariana Trench as an incredibly harsh environment yet one of poetry and astonishment. She has a wonderfully energetic way of conveying information through sidebars, while giving you a feel for the world through evocative language. Bright and engaging illustrations by Juan Calle help to open up a part of our planet that most of us have never even thought about. But now I can live on the surface richer, knowing that my world is stranger and more beautiful than I had ever known. A great, fun book for young and old and an essential read for anyone who cares about planet Earth.
November 25, 2022
I’m a huge sucker for anything about the ocean. When I was a kid, the only thing I really had available to learn about the sea were Jacques Cousteau books and videos. There’s so much more available now, and this book is a nice addition to the options. The art has a realistic look that’s almost surreal, which suits the topic of the abyssal seas. It’s easily the best part of the book. I’d love a poster of the depth map from the end of the book, if it had consistent scaling for the creatures.
I found the actual text uneven, and the typographical choices a little odd. I understand making the prose-verse in serif and the factual information in sans-serif, but the particular ones chosen didn’t seem to match with the tone of the text, and the sans-serif was a bit difficult to read with its very narrow kerning. As for the actual content, I forgot if the prose was supposed to be poetry, as it didn’t have a strong sense of rhythm or rhyme. In the information boxes, I thought it was odd that in a book giving scientific names and presenting a glossary at the end, the author chose to use “poop” instead of “feces”. If you’re expecting readers to be able to manage “xenophyophores”, then using childish language for defecation isn’t appropriate - respect kids’ intelligence!
These are, however, mostly nitpicks. It’s a fun little book with a good sense of the deepest part of the ocean and really lovely artwork.
I found the actual text uneven, and the typographical choices a little odd. I understand making the prose-verse in serif and the factual information in sans-serif, but the particular ones chosen didn’t seem to match with the tone of the text, and the sans-serif was a bit difficult to read with its very narrow kerning. As for the actual content, I forgot if the prose was supposed to be poetry, as it didn’t have a strong sense of rhythm or rhyme. In the information boxes, I thought it was odd that in a book giving scientific names and presenting a glossary at the end, the author chose to use “poop” instead of “feces”. If you’re expecting readers to be able to manage “xenophyophores”, then using childish language for defecation isn’t appropriate - respect kids’ intelligence!
These are, however, mostly nitpicks. It’s a fun little book with a good sense of the deepest part of the ocean and really lovely artwork.
February 26, 2023
As a former Science and English teacher, In Deep, Deep Down: The Secret Underwater Poetry of the Mariana Trench, written by Lydia Lukidis, is a book I wish I had throughout many lessons. She cleverly invites readers on a lyrical journey to a mysterious part in the ocean. Each spread takes the reader deeper into the ocean inside a protective submersible. Lukidis instructs readers to peer out of portholes as we are introduced to knowledge of unusual and beautiful sea life that exists the further down we go. Juan Calle Velez's illustrations captivate us with their intricate details showing us a whole world we do not expect to exist given the frigid temperatures and crushing pressures. The harmony between the text and the images leave the reader feeling as if they have traveled to the trench itself. The back matter augments the readers' experience because they learn about Lukidis's research process validating why we cannot always believe everything we read online. She uncovered many false facts to discover the real, authentic ones. This book is highly recommended for readers who like to learn, research, discover, write, and have an open mind to the many parts of our world still unknown.
March 3, 2023
As a biologist, a parent, a former elementary school teacher and former science educator, I am telling you, whoever you are, you need this book! Not only is it beautifully illustrated, but each page contains a short engaging passages about one of the wonders of the deep, some of which are accompanied by a fact-box containing more details if you or your little one is interested. This is a great book for a 1st-3rd grade classroom and would be a wonderful read aloud at home for kids ages 3-6, and at school for all elementary students who are embarking on the study of animals or ocean biomes. It would be a great addition to a unit on prehistoric life, as several of the organisms in the book are ones that have been around for millions of years and still flourish today.
If you are put off by the title, imagining that this is a poetry collection, it is not, as you may be thinking, a series of unrelated rhymes about the Mariana trench. The writing is lyrical, and laid out visually in a particular way, and each page focuses on a different trench-dweller, but it is very much a cohesive whole--a beautiful and informative story about life in the Mariana trench. And, of course, you can treat the text on each page as an individual poem if that is what you are looking for.
If you are put off by the title, imagining that this is a poetry collection, it is not, as you may be thinking, a series of unrelated rhymes about the Mariana trench. The writing is lyrical, and laid out visually in a particular way, and each page focuses on a different trench-dweller, but it is very much a cohesive whole--a beautiful and informative story about life in the Mariana trench. And, of course, you can treat the text on each page as an individual poem if that is what you are looking for.
November 6, 2022
I have to admit as I now have been at House of Science NZ for four months, I am starting to get a new appreciation for certain things like sustainability, climate change, global issues, and marine animals. These were topics prior that I wasn't exposed to, but now they are part of my everyday life as I think about how the books I read could be connected to our science resource kits. Deep, Deep, Down by Lydia Lukidis would work as a great companion to our kit Big Blue Future which talks about marine life and our oceans. Deep, Deep, Down takes readers on a journey as each page goes deeper and deeper down the Mariana Trench, stopping along the way and introducing readers to the types of creatures and plants that are found at the particular level. The illustrations by Juan Calle were also very beautiful and accompany the pages perfectly as along with the amazing pictures is the fantastic poetry from author Lydia Lukidis. Deep, Deep, Down is a great non-fiction read aimed at children aged 7-10 years old.
October 31, 2022
In Deep, Deep Down: The Secret Underwater Poetry of the Mariana Trench, author Lydia Lukidis invites readers on a lyrical journey to a mysterious part in the ocean. Warm and safe in our protective submersible, Lukidis directs us to peer out of portholes as she shines the light of knowledge on unusual sea creatures. She mesmerizes us with their intriguing looks, texture, movement, and ability to handle intense physical pressure, source food, and survive the trench's cold, dark depths. Yet, in spite of the notion that this undersea world should be creepy, her layered text (replete with educational text boxes) and Juan Calle Velez's gorgeous illustrations work so well together that the reader is left at the book's end feeling as if they have experienced a fascinating and wonderous journey. Elaborate backmatter adds to the experience--because every reader will not want to stop learning about this topic! I highly recommend this book!
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December 21, 2022Lydia Lukidis has created a mesmerizing nonfiction picture book that is also poetry– a hard feat for a writer to execute. Deep, Deep Down: The Secret Underwater Poetry of the Mariana Trench is so lyrical, I felt the dance of the underwater creatures on a journey to the ocean depths. Repetition, onomatopoeia, and diction that directs the movements of the submersible gives a realistic experience of the trench that is still being explored by scientists today.
Realistic and atmospheric illustrations by Juan Calle, a former biologist now science illustrator, draws readers into a dark but illuminating space as these creatures are introduced in all their amazing quirkiness. Back matter includes a glossary, thoughts on why studying this mysterious world is important, and interesting facts. Curious kids, teachers and librarians will enjoy a deep dive into this fascinating wonder hidden at the bottom of the Western Pacific Ocean
Realistic and atmospheric illustrations by Juan Calle, a former biologist now science illustrator, draws readers into a dark but illuminating space as these creatures are introduced in all their amazing quirkiness. Back matter includes a glossary, thoughts on why studying this mysterious world is important, and interesting facts. Curious kids, teachers and librarians will enjoy a deep dive into this fascinating wonder hidden at the bottom of the Western Pacific Ocean
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