#365PictureBooks 45. Lifesize Ocean by Anita Ganeri, illustrated by Stuart Jackson-Carter

Ganeri, A., & Jackson-Carter, S. (2014). Lifesize Ocean. London, UK: Kingfisher.

ISBN: 9780753436349
Pages: 24
Age Level: Middle Childhood 7-12
Genre: Non Fiction
Rating: 5 stars

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Wow!  This is an amazing non-fiction book that uses photography to show ocean creatures in their natural environment at at their actual size.   

Taking us on a visual journey through our oceans, starting with the smallest of creatures - Copepods & Pygmy seahorses, and continuing through to our biggest creatures - North Pacific giant octopus & Blue whale, children will be able to get an understanding of just what size these creatures really are.

It is a great tool to use for visual comparisons and size perception, as well as enabling children to actually see what these creatures look like (or at least part of them looks like).

The photography is accompanied by a brief description of each creature.  The language used is appropriate for our younger school students, whilst still providing information in a way that our senior students will be able to use.  The text enhances the images, drawing your eye to points of interest in each scene.

The book ends with two double-page spreads of animal facts giving you more information on the creatures in this book.  Things such as their habitat, length, diet, and lifespan, as well as an amazing fact about each creature.  They also use a photo of a diver as a visual comparison against the sea creatures size.

Two other great visual comparison, size perception and Actual Size books that we have in our library are Actual Size and Prehistoric Actual Size by Steve Jenkins.  These are great teaching tools, and just awesome and awe-inspiring to look at.

I got my copy of Lifesize Ocean from the Taradale Primary School library where I work. 

You can find a copy at Napier Libraries.