Under the Sea: Octopuses

Children are natural scientists, fascinated by the living world around them. Each volume in the Under the Sea series introduces young readers to a single ocean organism. A lifelong interest in science can begin as students improve their informational reading skills with these leveled Pebble Plus trade books. This volume begins by describing the octopus and its size compared to a human diver. Next it describes the parts of the octopus body, including the tentacles, the suckers on the tentacles, and the huge eyes of the octopus. The text discusses where the octopus lives and what it does, including how the octopus can change color to hide from predators. The octopus’s ability to escape predators by squirting out ink and to move by jet propulsion will help students understand how adaptations help animals survive. Each volume contains beautiful color photographs accompanied by text suitable for a beginning reader. The book can also be used to read to an entire pre-school or kindergarten class, since the pictures are large enough to be easily seen by a group. The book includes a short glossary of new words and an Internet site geared to a young reader’s interests.