Review: Down, Down, Down by Steve Jenkins

Down, Down, Down: Journey to the Bottom of the Sea by Steve Jenkins

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Jenkins, Steve. 2009. Down, Down, Down: Journey to the Bottom of the Sea. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children. ISBN 9780618966363

2. PLOT SUMMARY

Down, Down, Down: Journey to the Bottom of the Sea is an informational  book that provides a general explanation of different parts of the ocean, starting at the top with the surface and continuing deeper all the way to the deepest part of the ocean, the Marianas Trench. Each section of the ocean is given its own two page spread in the book, with paragraphs describing the environment and the animals that can be found there. Also located in each ocean section is a measurement line from the surface to the deepest spot in the ocean. A red dot on the line indicates how deep the current section is along with the average temperature of the environment. The majority of each two page section is made of vibrant illustrations, with the descriptive paragraph placed out of the way. Down, Down, Down ends with additional information about animals in the book, a depth timeline showing how far various humans, vessels and explorers have gone, and a bibliography of sources.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Steve Jenkins does an excellent job of showing his readers how large and mysterious the ocean is and how little of it has been explored by humans. Each section has a heading, giving readers a hint about the following descriptive paragraphs. The book is arranged in ocean depth order, getting consecutively deeper into the ocean page after page. The text, while not terribly advanced, would not be easy for young children. However, elementary aged children interested in ocean life would benefit from reading Down, Down, Down. Jenkins provides an extensive bibliography of resources for the creation of his book, as well as a wealth of additional facts and figures about ocean life. After reading Down, Down, Down, most children will be inspired to learn more about the ocean, and what creatures dwell in the deepest areas.

Jenkins’ illustrations are spectacularly detailed and incredibly realistic especially considering they are created by cutting or tearing construction paper into a collage. Each item is carefully labeled in every illustration, from the largest shark to the tiniest plankton. Jenkins knows how to create a sense of atmosphere, making the backgrounds darker as you go deeper into the ocean. In the final pages of the book, the previous illustrations are revisited on a smaller scale with additional facts.


4. AWARDS & REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

ALA Notable Book 2010

Cybils Nonfiction Picture Book Finalist 2010

New York Times Notable Children’s Books 2009

Texas Bluebonnet Award Nominee 2010-2011

Positive review in School Library Journal: “The bold views tend to emphasize the weirdness of these little-known species, but the repeated message that humans have much to explore and learn in the deeper ocean is intriguing and inviting.”

Positive review in Kirkus: “Once again, Jenkins provides an almost irresistible entry into our natural world for the youngest readers.”

Positive review in Booklist: “In this plunge into the deep, Jenkins displays his usual keen awareness of what is fascinating about biology and imparts it without sensationalism—the facts speak for themselves.”

5. CONNECTIONS
* Down, Down, Down would be perfect to use with a classroom unit of study on oceans or ocean dwellers.

* A small sampling of other books by Steve Jenkins:

             Actual Size. ISBN 9780547512914

            Just a Second. ISBN  9780618708963

            What Do You Do with a Tail Like This? ISBN 9780618256280  

            Living Color. ISBN 9780547576824