Book Review: Ocean

I mean, I'm a Pisces and I am a Pisces through and through. Literally obsessed with the ocean, all things water, I'd like to be a fish or something, but I know I'd probably be eaten on day one so I guess maybe that's not a great plan. When I saw this I literally HAD to get my hands on it and whoa boy..... it DELIVERED. 

Ocean - National Geographic

Discover the world's ocean--from tides and currents to the creatures living in it to the impact it has on our lives, whether we know it or not--in this richly illustrated overview of the life force that defines and sustains our planet, written by world-renowned oceanographer Sylvia Earle.

Everything you want to know about the ocean can be found inside these beautiful and dynamic pages. National Geographic Ocean unveils the power and significance of our planet's watery essence: the fundamental importance of the ocean in shaping Earth's climate and chemistry as well as its vital role in supporting a multitude of life-forms, including our own human race.

World-renowned oceanographer and National Geographic Explorer in Residence Sylvia Earle--affectionately called "Her Deepness"--guides readers with her lyrical style and inspiring wisdom, describing the evolution, beauty, and impact of our ocean; the challenges it faces, such as climate change, plastic, and overfishing; and the myriad ways we can help protect it.

This comprehensive reference explains the fundamental science of the ocean--from plate tectonics to seawater makeup, including a fascinating illustrated guide to marine life, from sponges, kelp, and zooplankton to whales, sharks, and sea turtles. More than 100 maps and diagrams, including seafloor and political maps of all Earth's seas and oceans, elucidate Dr. Earle's authoritative text.

If you're looking for a last minute gift for anyone, pick up literally any National Geographic book and it will be a hit. If you have someone obsessed with the ocean, ocean animals, science, or all of it, you absolutely need to pick this up. The book is massive, just over 500 oversized pages, and it is FULL of amazing science information and photographs. The very last section talks about the southern oceanic area, which begins with a double page photo of penguins, which are Lucy's favorite animal. I think we stared at the penguins for a solid five minutes. I'm not quite sure what she was studying but she was fascinated by a photo of a ton of similar looking penguins. Honestly, to be in the mind of a five year old would be fascinating. 

Penelope really liked learning why the sea is salty, she's particularly offended by the salt content in the Gulf of Mexico. The last time we went to Florida was her first time really being able to play in the water and she unintentionally swallowed a bunch of it and I feel like all of Madeira Beach heard about her experience and exactly how she felt about it. 

I really enjoyed all of the photos of the interesting life you'll find below the surface. On page 170 there is a photo of a European fan worm, which sounds alarming and immediately like I'm not interested, but it's actually quite beautiful. Of course, if you're interested in learning about the sometimes terrifying looking creatures of the deep sea, those are included too and yeah, they are still scary looking. 

I love how the book explains our impact on the ocean, and how it'll impact all of us in the future without positive changes. Some of it we knew, some of it was new to me information. I finished the book feeling really overwhelmed, slightly alarmed, and a greater appreciation for the power of the ocean and how, no matter where we live, we're all at the mercy of it. 

Thank you to TLC Book Tours and National Geographic for having me on this tour. If you're an educator, this would be an incredible classroom resource, even for kids to just page through. You're going to learn something even through a quick flip of the pages, and those are the best books to surround kids with. 

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