Seymour Simon is a genius. I have been recommending him for years without really having read a book cover to cover. The other night I found two reader copies just laying around, waiting to be read. I figured I had a few minutes to skim them.
I have no idea how many hours later I have not only read Elephants and Sea Creatures, but I am sharing an online video of a Vampire Squid. I will also be checking out Yeti Crabs as well.
Simon’s photographs are A-M-A-Z-I-N-G. I am not sure how he was able to get so deep into the ocean or close to the elephants, but whomever is taking these photographs are crazy cool. They are worth looking at. Forget the text.
However, the text is also fabulous. It is detailed, and has fun filled facts. But the text is not for the younger crowd. It is dense and scientific. However, if you are not a “science guy/gal”, you still can enjoy it as it is not “dull science” but written so it is accessible. There are glossaries at the end and other resources to check out.
From woolly mammoths and mastodons (smaller than today’s elephant) to today’s issues with poachers, the world of the elephant is studied from trunk to tail. Simon covers the different types of elephants, habitats, use in popular culture and mythology and even issues elephants face today.
From single-celled creatures to whales of epic size, the ocean is explored from the sun-filled top to the oxygen-deprived bottom. Camouflage, communication and more is explored in depth. I am not a sea person, but now I know there is more than fish tinkling in there….
And by the way, don’t eat the marine snow.
