Larry gets lost under the sea

K-Gr 2-In lively and compelling rhyming verse simple enough for young listeners to savor, Larry the Dog begins his day with boy buddy Pete scampering on the beach, only to end up following a "seashell with legs" under the sea. Ultimately, he discovers undersea trees and a scuba diver wearing a mask and is swept up by a strange boat beneath the ocean (presumably a submarine), where fish glimmer and shimmer and creatures creep like spiders. Accompanying the text from top page to deeper bottom is more complex information about fish anatomy (and why they can breathe underwater without the scuba gear that humans use), along with the definitions of oceanographer and bathyscaphe. The text further mentions less common-known facts: the Sunlight Zone where undersea life lives, the Twilight Zone (656 to 3,300 feet), and the Midnight Zone (deeper than 3,300 feet). Different creatures residing within each zone are identified, while readers glimpse the subtle color changes of the water as they transition from sea blue to aqua to almost midnight blue until Larry surfaces back up to the surface. Skewes's seaworthy illustrations will captivate younger children, who will be delighted to follow slightly odd-looking Larry on his unexpected adventure, as well as older ones who can appreciate intriguing new facts about the ocean. Prior "Larry" books focus on his exploits in specific geographic cities around the world, but this one has more global appeal. Suggestions for group discussion and related activities are added in the back, along with a useful list of aquariums to visit. VERDICT A welcome addition to an award-winning series.-Etta Anton, Yeshiva of Central Queens, NY © Copyright 2014. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

At the beach with owner Pete, dog Larry gets swept out to sea by a wave, meets an oceanographer, and stows away on a bathyscaphe that explores the ocean's depths. From tide pool to hydrothermal vents, the ocean-life definitions and accompanying cursory facts overshadow the story told in uneven, singsongy rhymes. Skewes's retro cartoons use sea-glass greens and deep-sea blues and purples. (c) Copyright 2015. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.