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Odious Oceans by Anita Ganeri
Odious Oceans by Anita Ganeri
A book just released for junior readers, Odious Oceans makes the claim: 'You'll never think geography's boring again.' If you are considering spending a small fortune on glossy hardbacks to tempt your children to become oceanographers, think again. This little book will have them hooked.
Part of the Horrible Geography series, it is packed with facts, legends, quizzes and stories. Every page has at least one cartoon or line drawing, and the text is well broken up to appeal to younger readers. The facts err on the gruesome or sensational side, but you'll find no anti-shark rants in here (despite the cover). Instead, shark attacks are put into perspective beside those of stonefish, blue-ringed octopus and sea wasps.
I challenge any adult to know even half the facts contained within - your children could outsmart you! Did you know, for example, what a problem modern-day pirates are to shipping? Or that one pirate slipped up by leaving his mobile phone behind on a raid?
The diverse range of topics includes ocean ecology and the history of sea exploration and shipbuilding (including the fateful voyage of the Titanic). The scientific explanations of waves, tides and water pressure are very clear: 'In deepest ocean, water pressure is like having 20 elephants sitting on top of you.'
Odious Oceans is aimed at a readership of eight-plus, and will probably be of particular interest to boys, with its emphasis on sensationalism. Anyone who has tried to get a boy to read a book will realise that this is a good thing in itself, even if it weren't a subject so close to our hearts. A book to entertain, excite and educate. Caroline Deacon |
| Odious Oceans by Anita Ganeri. Scholastic Books (0171 421 9000). Softback, 150pp, £3.99 |
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