Far from Shore: Chronicles of an Open Ocean Voyage

by Sophie Webb

Overview

In extremely deep waters (two miles deep), the vast sea appears empty. But as naturalist and artist Sophie Webb shows us, it is full of fascinating—yet difficult to study—life. Together with her shipmates, Sophie counts and collects samples of life in the deep ocean, from seabirds to dolphins, from winged fish to whales. Only their long-term field work can really help scientists determine the health of these remarkable creatures who need the clean deep ocean to survive.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780618597291
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	06/13/2011
Pages:	80
Sales rank:	69,109
Product dimensions:	8.30(w) x 9.10(h) x 0.50(d)
Lexile:	1030L (what's this?)
Age Range:	10 - 12 Years

About the Author

Sophie Webb is often at sea. Research ships have taken her to many shores, including those of Hawaii, Mexico, Central and South America, Alaska, and the Antarctic. Her ornithological illustrations appear in A Guide to the Birds of Mexico and Northern Central America, of which she is co-author. She lives in Bolinas, California.

Editorial Reviews

"An engagingly direct way of communicating both the science....and how the science is discovered." — Kirkus "It is Webb's dual perspective, viewing the world simultaneously through the eyes of researcher and artist, that makes her accounts of nature so appealing." —The Horn Book "Another fascinating expedition:.the you-are-there immediacy of the narrative-and the clear and colorful watercolor-and-gouache landscapes and drawings of the birds form an appealing travelogue that is as exciting as it is informative." —School Library Journal, starred review "A good choice for children intrigued by marine biology."—Booklist —

From the Publisher

Gr 4–8—Webb's voice comes through in her journal entries describing a four-month National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) expedition in the Eastern Tropical Pacific Ocean (ETP) to study the population levels of dolphins previously affected by tuna purse-seine fishing. Quietly and with no wasted words, the narrative details daily life aboard the McArthur as well as how field observation was done, what was learned, and how the data collected could be used in future studies. The illustrations, done in watercolor, gouache, and graphite, amplify and personify the text by showing where and how the scientists lived and worked. Other marine mammals besides dolphins are described and carefully drawn, as are the ocean-going birds of the Pacific. Graphs detail such issues as the numbers of dolphins drowned in purse-seine tuna nets before that method was banned, and maps help readers understand the extent of the ETP, an area of the Pacific Ocean stretching from California to Hawaii to Peru. This volume is delightful to browse and is informative in its storytelling. Although there is no table of contents, the two-and-one-half-page combined glossary/index will guide youngsters to specific topics.—Frances E. Millhouser, formerly at Chantilly Regional Library, Fairfax County, VA

School Library Journal