Journey into the Deep: Discovering New Ocean Creatures

by Rebecca L. Johnson

The worlds oceans cover nearly 70 percent of the Earths surface, yet these vast bodies of water remain the least explored and least understood ecosystems on the planet. Using the most innovative technologies available, scientists have discovered dozens of weird and wonderful new life forms that have never been seen before.

Genres: Nonfiction, Picture Books, Science, Nature, Animals, Middle Grade

64 pages, Library Binding

First published September 1, 2010

Reviews

[Manybooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

If I were to only consider Rebecca L. Johnson's 2011 Journey into the Deep: Discovering New Ocean Creatures scientifically and with regard to how well the author describes the Census of Marine Life and the oh so very many new to science sea creatures found and catalogued during this global project, I would in all likelihood be granting a full five star rating (as both the presented narrative and the accompanying photographs are intellectually and visually a total and utter dream, with especially the author's printed words showing a very good and appreciated, helpful combination of necessary complexity of thematics and simplicity of word usage and style so as to sufficiently enlighten but not unnecessarily overwhelm the intended audience, older children from about the age of nine onwards, not to mention that the source notes, the bibliographies and suggestions for further study and reading are the absolute icing on the cake here and do most definitely greatly augment the teaching and supplemental research potential of Journey Into the Deep: Discovering New Ocean Creatures).

However and the above all having been said, I have to admit that I do take a bit of personal umbrage at the rather casual and nonchalant attitude shown by author Rebecca L. Johnson towards the fact that in order to adequately study and analyse these creatures of the deep, in order to make and then manually organise these types of discoveries, sea animals such as jellyfish, comb jellies, zoo plankton, crustaceans etc. must be mined and harvested and then later preserved in alcohol, in other words, they need to more often than not be killed, they need to be captured and later destroyed. And while I do in fact more than understand why this needs to be done, there is at least in my humble opinion a rather callous authorial attitude of "oh well this is necessary to and for science" that I for one tend to find more than a bit uncomfortable (and indeed, I do therefore wish that the author had shown a trifle more humility and less of a sense of this being simply necessary and therefore totally academically, scientifically excusable). Still, and for all that Journey Into the Deep: Discovering New Ocean Creatures remains highly recommended (but yes, even though I have much enjoyed both text and the many amazing photographs and have actually learned quite a lot myself, I do leave this book with a somewhat bitter taste remaining in my mouth and a sadness that in order to study the ocean and its creatures, we seemingly have to kill them and that we also still do seem to think that this is both acceptable and even perhaps quite appropriate).

Oh and by the way, although I know that Journey Into the Deep: Discovering New Ocean Creatures is also available as an e-book, I would absolutely NOT RECOMMEND the digital version, as the printed words are so small that they are almost undecipherable (even if one tries to zoom in). Now really, what educational use is a non fiction science book on the ocean if one cannot actually peruse the featured text with any kind of visual ease? And truth be told, I even ended up having to purchase the hardcover edition of Journey Into the Deep: Discovering New Ocean Creatures, as it was quite simply utterly impossible for me to physically read the e-book edition on my iPad.

[Beverly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful photos of all kinds of unusual creatures.

[Emma Couch · Rating 1 out of 5]

Journey into the Deep: Discovering New Ocean Creatures is about the Census of Marine Life quest and the many researchers and countries participating in the largest exploration of the ocean in history and their findings. The findings are classified into their discovery locations. Shallow edges, the dark zine, abyssal plains, mountains in the sea, ridges and vents, ad the unfathomable deep are the six locations of discovery. Each location is their own chapter and they each discuss their creatures, organisms, and findings. The accuracy of this book is apparent because eighteen scientists from different colleges and countries are quoted and sighted in the book as well as a multitude of books, websites, and videos. The organization of this book, however, was odd. It was convenient that they book was organized into the six locations but the index, glossary, sources, source notes, and bibliography were in the middle of the book which disturbed the reading process and made it confusing. The design of the book was attractive the background consisted of the colors of the actual atmosphere of each area and pictures of the actual creatures surround each page. The reality of the fluorescent creatures was really captured through these illustrations. The writing style of this book is very vocabulary rich and contains a glossary that is convenient to look up unknown words, however, the writing and content was hard to connect to making it unstimulating. Journey into the Deep: Discovering New Ocean Creatures could be used in the classroom for students wanting to learn more or take the next step into ocean information. The book is chalk full of information and odd unknown creatures that it wouldn’t really be relevant to many standards and objectives, however, it could be a great individual read for students with interest.

[Amanda Guenther · Rating 4 out of 5]

Twin Text: Rainbow Fish Discovers the Deep Sea by Marcus Pfister
All of my pairings have something to do with animals and their environments.
I would pair these two books together because not only are they both in a deep sea setting but also both books are about taking a journey. Just like the scientists in this book discover new things within the sea so does the rainbow fish. These two books can also be paired or used around the same time as the, Life in the Ocean: The Story of Oceanographer Sylvia Earle by Claire A. Nivola (Farrar, Straus and Giroux), pairing. My students can compare and contrast the animals within this nonfiction book and its Rainbow fish pairing. They can look at animals in the sea that are similar between the books and which ones are different. Children can also compare and contrast the type of writing and information we get from the books. For example the nonfiction book is giving us factual information which teaches us about discovery while Rainbow Fish is a fictional story about a fish discovering the world which teaches us similar things. The two books are very different in what age they are supposed to be for. The nonfiction book will have to be read aloud to a younger age group. I would read both aloud to the students together. Students could reference both books for future assignments but may need help understanding and interpreting the nonfiction book.

[Mary Ward · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is full of information about the ocean. It contains information from the surface to the deepest levels of the ocean.Each page is loaded with authentic facts. The pictures are all authentic photographs, as well. The information is all organized. A location in the ocean is presented, and then throughout the next few pages, descriptions of the location and things that may be seen there are described in endless detail. The format is easy to follow.The dark background throughout the book makes the pictures and words pop. Children will love the real life pictures and neat facts. The writing style is clear. The author introduces so many new facts without overwhelming the reader with large and confusing words.

This book is loaded with information! I would love to introduce this book to my class. This book would fit well in a science unit including the ocean. In my opinion, the pictures are what makes the book. They are so eye catching and interesting. They are all photographs, and authentic pictures of what is being described. This book offers so much information, in an eye catching manor.

[Jordan Cummings · Rating 4 out of 5]

Many people have always wondered what mysteries the ocean holds. Journey into the Deep: Discovering New Ocean Creatures by Rebecca Johnson explores the ocean from sunlit shallows to the deepest, darkest depths. Along the way, the readers meet many incredible creatures that are brand new to science. They are taken to a coral reef and spot a new species of pygmy octopus and then deeper into the ocean and discover fragile, nearly transparent jellies as they drift past. They are then lead down into a world of eternal night, encounter animals that make their own light and zombie worms that feast on the bones of dead whales. This books adventure is based on the real journeys of scientists involved in the Census of Marine Life. From 2000 to 2010, more than two thousand researchers from 82 countries carried out the most extensive investigation of ocean life ever attempted. The author, Rebecca L. Johnson, takes the readers to research sites around the globe, showing how ocean scientists do their work. The stunning photographs throughout this book bring readers face-to-face with some of the most mesmerizing creatures on Earth.

[Anna Ryckman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This nonfiction book discusses the weird and interesting creatures that we have discovered lives in the deepest parts of our oceans. With real photographs of these creatures and where they live, this book discusses their varying lifestyles and how scientists discovered them. This book exhibits its credibility with its glossary, bibliography, and source notes. It also provides its readers with more websites and sources they can explore to learn even more about this extremely interesting topic. This is an awesome book to have in a classroom because it covers a lot of information, but in an interesting and more personal way than a traditional textbook. I would recommend this book to students who show an interest in the ocean and in animals. It does have heavy text, which may be challenging for a lot of readers. I absolutely love the photographs in this book and I think students would get so much out of this book just by thumbing through the pages.

[Nicole Quijada · Rating 3 out of 5]

Journey into the Deep: Discovering New Ocean Creatures is a nonfiction picture book that discusses weird and wonderful creatures that have been discovered beyond the deep. It includes the different creatures’ lifestyles and living habitats, as well as the parts of the ocean where these sea creatures were found with lots of details including photographs. This book includes a lot of heavy text with many detailed scientific photos on each page. Structured very similarly to a textbook, it includes a glossary, bibliography, source notes, as well as more websites, books, and videos so that the readers have the ability to seek out more information on this topic. I think the only kids that would read this whole book through would be kids who already have a large interest in this topic. This book would be a good alternative to use rather than a text book. I was not a big fan of this book because I am not extremely interested in this topic.

[Matthew · Rating 3 out of 5]

A story following a researcher gathering data for the Census of Marine Life. The story goes in detail about the different steps of gathering samples of marine life and examining them. It goes about this by telling its narrative in a second person view. This makes the reading much more engaging and personal. Young readers will likely find this much easier to read than a third person narration. The pictures in the book are very eye catching and clear, showing off the biodiversity of the ocean as the narrative takes the reader deeper and deeper. And the book is laid out well, avoiding ever having too much or too little text on any page. The book would be a great addition to a classroom, providing excellent opportunities to introduce scientific processes. Teachers could use it as an example of how real life scientists gather and examine data in order to teach their students the proper way to do research.

[Andrea Engle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Generously larded with stunning color photographs, this scientific novella is packed with information about the discoveries made by the Census of Marine Life (COML) in various sections of the oceans of Planet Earth. Copyrighted in 2011, the book probably short-changes the number of new species and underwater creatures unveiled by this intensive, scientific survey of the unseen creatures beneath the waves … a tribute to the magnificent universe in which we live … absolutely stellar …

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Journey into the Deep: Discovering New Ocean Creatures by Rebecca L. Johnson – This is on kindle unlimited. Cool photographs for your nonfiction lovers! Happy Reading!

[Robin · Rating 1 out of 5]

Unreadable on kindle.

[Maggie Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Summary:
This book contains photographs of amazing deep-sea creatures along with scientific information about where the creatures live, how they survive, and how scientists explore the deep-sea and discover such amazing creatures. The book allows the reader to have the sense of being a part of the story through the second-person narration. Interesting quotes by scientists are sprinkled throughout the text.

Review:
This is a beautiful book. The photographs are amazing, making it fun to just flip through.
I like how it breaks down the geography of the ocean into different sections (i.e., “Open Water,” “The Dark Zone,” “Abyssal Plains,” etc.), providing an organized look at how life in the ocean varies in different regions.

Book Connections:
I would connect this book with other informational texts about animals that live in extreme environments, such as Desert Life by Rachel Mann.

Quote:
"Often when I'm studying jellyfish I feel like I'm looking at a life-form from another planet. Yet in a sense, it's their planet and we're the aliens." --Kevin Raskoff (p. 31).
This is a free-standing quote on the page that contains it. It simply adds to the discussion of jellyfish. This can be used as a mentor text for students writing informational essays. They can practice using quotes in their own writing.

[Mary Lynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Scribd Audio

I thought this would be a deeper dive (ha) into deep sea creatures, but it was more a broad overview meant to inspire kids into marine science. If I’d been the demographic, would’ve been perfect for me!

[Cathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nonfiction Detectives Blog


This nonfiction book for middle grade and young adult readers highlights ocean life recently discovered by scientists during a ten-year long project called The Census of Marine Life. The book is divided into chapters based on the ocean zones. Some of the chapters include Shallow Edges, Deep Slopes, The Dark Zone, and Abyssal Plains. The photography in this books is truly stunning, and a lengthy caption accompanies each photo. Some of the newly discovered species described in the book include the squat lobster, comb jellies, and a see-through sea cucumber. Johnson describes the amazing marine discoveries by using a 2nd person narrative which will hook many young readers.

"A ribbon of coral stretches out below you. Schools of brightly colored fish swirl past. As you swim over the reef, you spot sponges, sea cucumbers, anemones, spiny sea urchins, and a blue sea star. The reef is jam-packed with life. Scientists think tropical coral reefs might be home to more than one million different kinds of living things." [p. 11]

After collecting samples of ocean life, the Census scientists sort and identify each creature while taking care to document the GPS location. The marine biologists featured in this book collect marine life from all over the globe. A map and diagram of ocean levels at the beginning of each chapter prove to be useful tools for readers. Johnson ends with an epilogue about threats to the ocean's biodiversity including pollution, overfishing and global warming. A glossary, bibliography, and list of resources are included in the back of the book.

The amazing photographs, detailed information and accessible writing make this book an excellent addition to any school or public library collection.

(Grades 4-8)

[Lindsay Rains]

Johnson, R.L. (2011). Journey into the Deep: Discovering New Ocean Creatures. Minnesota: Lerner Publishing Group.

NCTE Orbis Pictus Award Honor Book (2011)

Informational

This informational book takes a look at some of the discoveries that the Census of Marine Life project found during their journey. The Census of Marine Life was a quest that took scientist from around the world on a ten-year journey to discover new species that live in the ocean. This book provides beautiful images of some of the creatures that were discovered during this expedition, as well as some images of the equipment and the scientist involved. The backgrounds for some of the pages are really dark, but that gives you the feeling that you are underwater. A majority of the font is white and black with an average font size. I think someone with visual troubles may have a difficult time reading this book. I think this book would be great to use in the classroom to show students how much work goes into a study and how careful the scientists needed to be. It’s also a good way for students to learn about scientific names for animals and it is a good way to talk about geography as well because they show where they are located on the map in certain parts of the book. The book would also be good for a vocabulary lesson because there is a glossary at the end for students to look at. I can see this book being used with 3rd-6th graders because of the vocabulary used and the amount of wording in the book. I enjoyed learning about the Census of Marine Life and looking at all of the photos of the creatures that they were able to discover.

[David Korsak · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is about introducing readers to the Census and some of the creatures the Census have discovered. The book is divided into sections based on the area of the ocean being studied. The book begins in the surveyed shallow areas first and then to the deep areas. Johnson actually joined scientists on some of these surveys and her extensive experience can be seen through her writing. For example, sampling the ocean’s shallow edges or sorting through mud gathered from the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean, picking out animals. She describes the ocean environment and some of the methods used by scientists by writing in second person. She does this because it puts the readers in the scientist’s shoes, as if the readers are the ones in the ocean surveying the landscape. The photos in this book are magnificent because there were taken while she was underwater. Each photo shows a different animal and the detail in these photos is amazing. This is probably my favorite book because the author did first hand research in order to write this amazing book. I could not believe some of the facts in this book, like there are over 10 million marine animal species living in our oceans and we have only discovered 275,000. If you wish to learn about the ocean and the animals within the ocean, then you need to read this book.

[Lacey · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Journey Into the Deep is a fascinating, fact-filled book displaying the work of the Census of Marine Life, the most detailed study of life in the ocean ever conducted. The book is organized by the different environments and terrains of the sea, and is written as if the reader is personally exploring the ocean and collecting samples of it’s animals themself, therefore creating an engaging, adventurous reading experience. Each page showcases stunning photographs of unusual species with interesting facts about each animal, as well as photographs of the exploration of each location featured. From fish with transparent heads to bone-eating worms, the ocean is full of fascinating species that scientists are only beginning to discover. Through this piece, the reader gains an interesting understanding of the diversity of animals in the ocean, and how teeming with life the sea truly is.
I think this book would be chosen very often for free reading time in the classroom because of its fascinating photographs. I also think that this book would be a great introduction into studying the ocean to showcase how there are so much more than just fish in the sea!

[Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

This gorgeous book tells the story behind the data collected during the Census of Marine Life from 2000 to 2010. Readers will be amazed as they can catch a glimpse of creatures from the vast ocean depths, many of which were newly discovered species identified during the census. Johnson has divided the book into 8 different parts of the ocean environment. She identifies these parts not only by name, e.g. deep slopes, but with a graphic that shows the depth and the location on a globe – very handy. The pictures are the most amazing part of this book but that is not to say that Johnson’s writing is not excellent because it is. In any information book, readers rely on the text for the conveyance of the bulk of information and Johnson’s writing takes the reader on an exciting journey through the world’s oceans. She makes us feel the excitement of finding a rare or new creature and helps us appreciate the hard work marine scientists do. It is worth mentioning that most pages in this book have light text on a dark background which not everyone finds easy on the eyes but children should not have much of a problem with this.

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Journey Into the Deep: Discovering New Ocean Creatures by Rebecca L. Johnson is a great non-fiction book about the creatures of the deep that very few people will ever get the chance to meet face to face. While there are some creatures that people know about, scientists have discovered new animals in the deepest depths of the ocean during the Census of Marine Life. From 2000 to 2010, more than two thousand researchers from eighty-two countries carried out the most extensive investigation of ocean life ever attempted and found creatures that humans could not even dream of.

I would pair this book with The Magic School Bus On the Ocean Floor by Jonna Cole. In the book, Ms. Frizzle and her class, along with their magic bus and lizard Liz, take a field trip to the bottom of the ocean and learn about hot water vents, coral reefs, and animal and plant life. Although in the book Ms. Frizzle and her class are checking out animals on the ocean floor, the non-fiction book may help clarify and shed light on information about certain animals or bring up new ocean animals that children want to learn more about, which makes it a great resource to have.

[Katie Grasher · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book explored what it was like and all the different types of fish and marine life in every part of the ocean from the deep abyssal plains to the shallow edges. This book mainly focused on marine life that most people have not heard of and attempts to explain why and how the creatures in the specific parts of the ocean live and function. As is all other non-fiction books this book has real life journeys of scientists involved in the Census of Marine life which was a 10 year expedition that several thousand marine life researchers embarked on. I liked this book because I really like to learn about fun and new interesting facts about things I did not previously know. It talked about all the different parts of the ocean and what creatures lived there and ones that they would expect to live there. Learning outcomes can include learning a bunch of new information that you did not know before as well as vocabulary because it is an informational book.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! Just the coolest. Amazing photographs and information on dozens of remarkable ocean creatures. A world-wide survey of ocean life has just been completed. This book describes the survey, tells some of what was learned, and shows photographs of many of the astonishing discoveries. The fish with the see through head will blow you away. It even got my teenage son to look up from video battle and put down the controller for a moment. Children love knowing things adults don't, and this book is full of astonishing animals and facts that are new. The yeti crab will inspire fashion designers; the sea slugs eating orangesicle-colored methane ice changed my perception of what life requires. (Heat, light, something I would recognize as food, ie not frozen poison gas.) I borrowed and read this book 2 months ago and have realized I can't bear not to own it.

[Kelsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ages: 8-12 years

"We know less about this huge watery kingdom than we do about many planets in our solar system." From 2000 to 2010, more than 2,000 researchers from 82 countries sought to understand more about our oceans conducting the most extensive investigation of ocean life ever attempted. Johnson details 8 oceanic sections filled with creatures of the shores to creatures of the deep.

Johnson journeyed across the globe to get first hand accounts from scientists that participated in the study, quoting 18 scientists throughout the book. Her second-person narrative captivates children considering future marine biology professions, and also reveals her own passion for the ocean (being an avid scuba diver). Great provision of yet-to-be-named oceanic life pictures mixed in with an exciting narrative of discovery.

[Sarah Stommel]

This was a second person perspective from a marine biologist exploring and testing the waters from shallow ocean to deep ocean. The whole story is jam packed with facts about all levels of the ocean, their creatures, and what tests the biologist use at this stage. Along with this there is real life photographs from underwater with captions with more facts about the plants and creatures of that part of the ocean. It is really good book for students who are interested in the sea. It makes the reader feel as though they are performing these tests and that we are the marine biologist. It would be something that I have in my classroom because it is interesting and could inspire my students, especially my female students to pursue the sciences. It would also be beneficial to introduce the subject of the ocean to my students in a fun way.

[Elaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I originally got this for my son, who wants to be a marine biologist someday. However, the text is a little old for him. We'll still look at the pictures, but I'll have to read it to him. But this was a wonderful book! I'd recommend for about fourth grade up because of the vocabulary, but the story will hook any kid interested in ocean life. The photographs are beautiful, and I loved the maps that showed not only where the animals were found on the planet, but also in which kind of sea environment. The style of writing in the second person also adds to the excitement of the book, and this is the first time (other than Choose-Your-Own-Adventure) that I have actually enjoyed this point of view in children's literature.

[Brooke · Rating 4 out of 5]

This informative book contains facts about the deepest levels of the ocean. The pages are filled with accurate information and photos of objects that are considered mysterious to many! This book is very descriptive, but uses words that children understand. Not to mention, the pictures are phenomenal and very eye catching.
This book is very informational, but not boring! I definitely want to have a copy of this for my own classroom. I would want to do an "under the water" week! I would start off the week by reading this book to my class, and then I would ask my students to do further research on just one aspect of the book. They could use their imagination to paint or create an animal that they may have learned about!

[Jeannene Egan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Journey into the Deep Discovering New Ocean Creatures
This is a non-fiction book that introduces different creatures that are found in the ocean. The different levels of the ocean are discussed in this book as well.

Down to the Sea with Mr. Magee
This book is about a man and his dog that go out to the ocean on a boat. They run into some trouble because one whale. At the end of the day they are saved by 50 whales.

Pairing – I would pair these books because Down to the Sea with Mr. Magee is a fun way to introduce a unit about the ocean. I would begin by talking about the whales and then say that there are many other creatures below the ocean surface. The Journey into the Deep is a perfect book to allow the students to discover other ocean creatures.

[Bianca Dugan-sherman · Rating 4 out of 5]

The fiction twin text I chose for this book is Over in the Ocean by Marianne Berkes. Both of these books are about animals and ecosystems found in the ocean. The nonfiction book provides information of different new organisms found in the ocean and how they were found. While the fiction book includes some of the species found in the ocean. The fiction book is also a counting book. Young readers will learn how to count while learning about animals found in the ocean. Readers will have more information about the ocean and discoveries found in it while younger readers may find it fun counting and also seeing these animals that can be found in the ocean.

[Matthew West · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great informational book about the majestic creatures of the ocean. The structure of the book is wonderful as it starts from broad basic topics and narrows down to very specific details. The photographs are amazing and look like something you might see on a HD discovery channel series with multiple curious fact sections on each page that give further detail to each topic. I would definitely prefer this book to most ocean text books because of the design and attention grabbing facts and pictures. Definitely a great book to get anyone who is wanting to learn more about deep sea creatures.

[Jenifer Ashby · Rating 4 out of 5]

I paired this nonfiction text to the fiction text Commotion under the Ocean by Giles Andreae. The Journey Into the Deep is about the creatures of the sea that very few people will ever get to see and creatures that we may never get to learn about. This book talks about the different scientist and technologies that let us explore a little deeper and see creatures that we never dreamed about seeing. I paired this up with Commotion in the Ocean because it also takes us to the bottom of the ocean to find creatures and explore a little bit deeper.