The novel repeatedly mentions the U.S. Naval Commander Matthew Fontaine Maury, an oceanographer who investigated the winds, seas, and currents, collected samples from the depths, and charted the world's oceans. Maury was internationally famous, and Verne may have known of his French ancestry. These are novels which entertain, seduce and provoke thought,” he added. “They take us out of ourselves and invite us to explore other worlds. They’re also books full of promise. I can’t wait to see what this year’s winning writers do next.” But there were other animals in this land, strange ones, who spoke both sky and sea. Seals and dolphins and turtles and the rare fin whale would come down to hunt or talk for a bit and then vanish to that strange membrane that separated the ocean from everything else. Of course they were loved- but perhaps not quite entirely trusted.” Above and Below is a non-fiction book with flaps that take the reader on a journey through watery habitats of sea and shore. Verne, Jules. Twenty Thousand Leagues Under The Sea. New York, Charles Scribner's Sons. 1937, p. 221

The Magic School Bus on the Ocean Floor by Joanna Cole: A class trip to the ocean! Finally, the kids in Ms. Frizzle’s class are going on an ordinary field trip, just like everyone else. But when the Friz drives onto the beach, across the sand, and straight into the ocean water without stopping, the kids know that they have once again embarked on one of Ms. Frizzle’s crazy class trips!Moonlight Ocean by Elizabeth Golding: These lightbeam books are SOOOOO cool – grabbing kids attention from the start! Hold up a flashlight to see illustrations come to life with different sea creatures and more from under the ocean. Rounding out the population were the famous un-fish of the ocean: the octopus, flexing and swirling the ends of her tentacles; delicate jellyfish like fairies; lobsters and sea stars; urchins and nudibranchs... the funny, caterpillar-like creatures that flowed over the ocean floor wearing all kinds of colors and appendages.

The novel was originally serialized from March 1869 through June 1870 in Pierre-Jules Hetzel's fortnightly periodical, the Magasin d'éducation et de récréation. A deluxe octavo edition, published by Hetzel in November 1871, included 111 illustrations by Alphonse de Neuville and Édouard Riou. [2] The book was widely acclaimed on its release and remains so; it is regarded as one of the premier adventure novels and one of Verne's greatest works, along with Around the World in Eighty Days and Journey to the Center of the Earth. Its depiction of Captain Nemo's underwater ship, the Nautilus, is regarded as ahead of its time, since it accurately describes many features of today's submarines, which in the 1860s were comparatively primitive vessels.

With beautiful illustrations and interesting facts Simon & Schuster Children’s Guide to Sea Creatureswill be able to answer most of those questions from your inquisitive preschooler that you have no clue of the answer to. I would recommend any of this series of illustrated encyclopedias for your family bookshelves. DK Eyewitness Books: Ocean