  | Full Text Reviews: School Library Journal - 04/01/2018 Gr 2–4—On the Alvin submersible, three scientists dive into the Pacific Ocean to discover if life thrives at the bottom of the sea. Written in a loose logbook style, the book captures the emotions of the scientists who are hopeful that their work could lead to new discoveries. Cusolito's narrative takes readers through a normal day on the Alvin and uses sound effects, repetition, and challenging vocabulary to provide kids with a suspenseful and informative plot. ("Alvin sinks, slowly spinning DOWN DOWN DOWN. Your stomach flutters.") Wong's realistic yet subdued digital illustrations are a perfect match for the subject matter. In addition, the font color contrasts with the background, making for an easy reading experience. VERDICT A captivating story that introduces and encourages scientific study, specifically the field of oceanography. A great addition to STEM collections.—Hilary Tufo, Columbus Metropolitan Library-Reynoldsburg - Copyright 2018 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission. Booklist - 05/01/2018 Since its first launch in 1965, only 40 men and 1 woman have piloted the deep-sea submersible Alvin. Young readers can imagine themselves as one of the pilots in this sensory-rich picture book that uses second-person narration to describe a typical mission in the Pacific Ocean. As the pilot and two scientists (one of whom is a woman) squeeze into the tiny human-occupied vehicle (HOV) and prepare to launch, a surface crew performs final checks. As Alvin “sinks, / slowly spinning / DOWN DOWN DOWN,” the digitally rendered illustrations depict not only the progressively darker ocean color but also the changes in marine life, until the HOV, two miles deep, reaches the ocean floor. Here the scientists investigate, record, analyze, and take samples of this extreme ecosystem, avoiding such calamities as rocky columns that could pin them below the surface, before finally resurfacing. Both the wonder and danger are palpable. Back matter offers more information on Alvin and some of the strange organisms living in the ocean’s deepest waters. An inviting look at scientists in action. - Copyright 2018 Booklist. Loading...
 |