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Habitats
A Day in the Deep
Travel deep into the ocean way below the surface and you’ll encounter some creatures you never knew existed! This book takes you on a journey through the dark depths of the sea towards the ocean floor. Most ecosystems need sunlight, but deep in the ocean where the sun doesn’t shine animals have adapted some very interesting ways to see, protect themselves, and eat. Discover the unique habitats, adaptations, and food chains of these deep -sea creatures.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published August 1, 2013
4 people are currently reading
350 people want to read
About the author
Kevin Kurtz
43 books4 followersKevin Kurtz has loved books and nature since he was a kid growing up in upstate New York. As an adult, he has worked at a marine biology research center, an aquarium and a children's science museum. He has also sailed on scientific research ships, including with the Chicxulub Impact Crater expedition as scientists drilled into the crater from the asteroid impact that wiped out most of the dinosaurs.
His first children's book, 'A Day in the Salt Marsh,' was published in 2007. He continues to write books and visit schools to introduce children to the wonders of reading, writing, science and nature.
His first children's book, 'A Day in the Salt Marsh,' was published in 2007. He continues to write books and visit schools to introduce children to the wonders of reading, writing, science and nature.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
September 13, 2020
The ocean is so freaking scary.
December 11, 2017
Beautiful illustrations and jam-packed with facts. However, the rhyming text has a lot of stumbles in its rhythym for read-alounds. Still a great picturebook for those who love the ocean world.
April 24, 2019
Good information overall. Back pages had great information.
May 24, 2023
Beloved by my 4 year old. She has almost every line of this book about deep sea creatures memorized.
March 29, 2014
Twin Text: Pout Pout Fish in the Big-Big Dark by Deborah Diesen
Rationale: I picked Pout Pout Fish in the Big-Big Dark by Deborah Diesen as my twin text because it has great comparisons of sea creatures in the bottom of the ocean to the sea creatures described in detail in A Day in the Deep by Kevin Kurtz. Pout Pout Fish in the Big-Big Dark describes the story of Mr. Fish who travels far down into the ocean in the dark to help his friend find his pearl. I really liked the mystery of what is lurking in the dark and the illustrations of all of the different kinds of sea creatures. A Day in the Deep helps readers discover the habitats, adaptations, food chains, sea plants, and creatures that are found at different depths of the sea.
Text Structure: This book has an established sequence structure. It narrates diving into the deep and what you would see at different sea levels as you go further and further down. There is also a lot of description in which the book describes these creatures in great detail. At the end of the book, there is a creative minds section that provides activities for readers to do in order to learn more about habitats and living below sea level.
Strategy Application: I would do a compare/contrast activity in which students will compare and contrast the creatures that they saw in the fiction book to the creatures in the nonfiction book. They could also do a webbing activity in which they describe different kinds of creatures. I could also do a KWL chart before reading the nonfiction book.
Book Review Citation for Nonfiction Book:
(2013, November 1) School Library Journal. http://www.booksinprint2.com.leo.lib....#
Rationale: I picked Pout Pout Fish in the Big-Big Dark by Deborah Diesen as my twin text because it has great comparisons of sea creatures in the bottom of the ocean to the sea creatures described in detail in A Day in the Deep by Kevin Kurtz. Pout Pout Fish in the Big-Big Dark describes the story of Mr. Fish who travels far down into the ocean in the dark to help his friend find his pearl. I really liked the mystery of what is lurking in the dark and the illustrations of all of the different kinds of sea creatures. A Day in the Deep helps readers discover the habitats, adaptations, food chains, sea plants, and creatures that are found at different depths of the sea.
Text Structure: This book has an established sequence structure. It narrates diving into the deep and what you would see at different sea levels as you go further and further down. There is also a lot of description in which the book describes these creatures in great detail. At the end of the book, there is a creative minds section that provides activities for readers to do in order to learn more about habitats and living below sea level.
Strategy Application: I would do a compare/contrast activity in which students will compare and contrast the creatures that they saw in the fiction book to the creatures in the nonfiction book. They could also do a webbing activity in which they describe different kinds of creatures. I could also do a KWL chart before reading the nonfiction book.
Book Review Citation for Nonfiction Book:
(2013, November 1) School Library Journal. http://www.booksinprint2.com.leo.lib....#
November 12, 2013
What is it like 4,500 feet below the surface of the ocean? And what kinds of creatures are there? In A Day in the Deep, author Kevin Kurtz will enable the reader to travel deep into the ocean way below the surface and encounter some animals hard to imagine. This book is a journey through the dark depths of the sea towards the ocean floor. Most ecosystems require sunlight, but deep in the ocean where the sun doesn't shine creatures have adapted some very interesting ways to see, protect themselves, and find food. Do you know the different zones of the deep ocean habitats and what strange animals live in which zone?
The organisms featured in the rhyming text and nicely illustrated with the full-color, full-page artwork by Erin E. Hunter include Sargassum fish, cookiecutter sharks, viperfish, plankton, headlight fish, vampire squid, spookfish, marine snow, pelican eels, Atolla jellyfish, and anglerfish, among others. There are four pages of “For Creative Minds” information and activities in the back of the book: “Deep Ocean Habitats,” “Match the Animal to its Life Zone,” “Glowing in the Dark,” and “Living Under Pressure.” There are more free learning activities available at the publisher’s website. Kids will enjoy discovering the unique habitats, adaptations, and food chains of these deep-sea creatures. Two similar books by Kurtz, an environmental educator and curriculum writer, are A Day in the Salt Marsh and A Day on the Mountain.
The organisms featured in the rhyming text and nicely illustrated with the full-color, full-page artwork by Erin E. Hunter include Sargassum fish, cookiecutter sharks, viperfish, plankton, headlight fish, vampire squid, spookfish, marine snow, pelican eels, Atolla jellyfish, and anglerfish, among others. There are four pages of “For Creative Minds” information and activities in the back of the book: “Deep Ocean Habitats,” “Match the Animal to its Life Zone,” “Glowing in the Dark,” and “Living Under Pressure.” There are more free learning activities available at the publisher’s website. Kids will enjoy discovering the unique habitats, adaptations, and food chains of these deep-sea creatures. Two similar books by Kurtz, an environmental educator and curriculum writer, are A Day in the Salt Marsh and A Day on the Mountain.
December 9, 2013
Review: This is an attractive book with illustrations pretty true to reality and not “cutesy” as far as the various sea creatures are concerned. The book is written in verse style which engages the mind of the young reader for more comprehension and retention.
Beginning with just below the surface where the sun still shines, the contents of the sea are described - the creatures and sea plants and their interaction. Moving on a bit deeper the light diminishes and the sea life changes. You see how the creatures’ habitats and strange shapes and abilities make them precisely suited for the depth of the sea in which they dwell. It is interesting to see the way life exists even at depths where survival would seem impossible. What is it like at 1,000 feet? Did you know that there is actually life at 5,000 below sea level?
There are four pages in the back of the book that offer opportunities for the creative mind to gain more information and perform activities to enhance their learning experience and enjoyment. The publisher also offers more free activities online at www.sylvanDellPublishing.com. There is an entire collection of ocean-related titles available from Sylvan Dell Publishing.
DISCLOSURE: A complimentary copy was provided by Sylvan Dell Publishing in exchange for this honest review. No compensation was received and opinions expressed are solely those of the reviewer.
Beginning with just below the surface where the sun still shines, the contents of the sea are described - the creatures and sea plants and their interaction. Moving on a bit deeper the light diminishes and the sea life changes. You see how the creatures’ habitats and strange shapes and abilities make them precisely suited for the depth of the sea in which they dwell. It is interesting to see the way life exists even at depths where survival would seem impossible. What is it like at 1,000 feet? Did you know that there is actually life at 5,000 below sea level?
There are four pages in the back of the book that offer opportunities for the creative mind to gain more information and perform activities to enhance their learning experience and enjoyment. The publisher also offers more free activities online at www.sylvanDellPublishing.com. There is an entire collection of ocean-related titles available from Sylvan Dell Publishing.
DISCLOSURE: A complimentary copy was provided by Sylvan Dell Publishing in exchange for this honest review. No compensation was received and opinions expressed are solely those of the reviewer.
August 26, 2016
The first time I read this book to my kids, I didn't really like it. But my kids did. So we read it again. And again. And about 20 more times after that. I found that I liked it better each time. For the most part, The rhyming text flows easily. The illustrations are highly detailed and accurately depict the sea life described. It was interesting to learn about the different depths of the ocean and find out what animals live at certain levels.
There were two things that I felt could have been better. The first is that some of the illustrations didn't plan for the gutter very well and fish heads got stuck in the fold of the book, which made it kind of difficult to see all the nicely rendered details. The second is that I felt like some information was sacrificed for the sake of the rhyme. I would have preferred a non-rhyming book so that we could have gotten more facts about the animals.
That being said, my kids and I really enjoyed our trip(s) into the deep and I look forward to more non-fiction books from this author and publisher.
My blog: Books for Kids
There were two things that I felt could have been better. The first is that some of the illustrations didn't plan for the gutter very well and fish heads got stuck in the fold of the book, which made it kind of difficult to see all the nicely rendered details. The second is that I felt like some information was sacrificed for the sake of the rhyme. I would have preferred a non-rhyming book so that we could have gotten more facts about the animals.
That being said, my kids and I really enjoyed our trip(s) into the deep and I look forward to more non-fiction books from this author and publisher.
My blog: Books for Kids
September 15, 2013
Readers dive through the five layers of the ocean's habitat--the sunlight zone, the twilight zone, the midnight zone, the abyssal zone, and the hadal zone--to explore each zone's characteristics and inhabitants. Intriguing species include the vampire squid, the anglerfish, and the spookfish with its barrel-shaped eyes. Readers will surely be fascinated about the adaptations these creatures have made to survive at various ocean depths with little or no sunlight and enormous surface pressure, 8 tons per square inch at the ocean's deepest point. The text, illustrations, and accompanying activities will keep readers busily engaged and informed. I was intrigued to read that there is a lot of quiet waiting for possible food sources to pass by.
October 3, 2013
I got this book from a giveaway from goodreads. The book was very well illustrated and my son loved the fish so much he has read this book like 10 times it is a good quality book it has flaps on both the front and back cover so you can mark your place. It appeals to multiple ages great for kids who love the ocean .
October 13, 2013
Interesting read.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews