The Fantastic Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau by Dan Yaccarino

August 28, 2014

The Fantastic Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau by Dan Yaccarino

The Fantastic Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau
by Dan Yaccarino
Alfred A. Knopf

How did Jacques Cousteau end up devoting his life to the sea?  Doctors orders.

It all started when he was a small boy, small and sick.  The doctor told him to swim to build his strength.  Jacques found that he loved the water.  He also loved tinkering with gadgets and building things.

As a young man, he was in a serious car accident.  Doctors said he would have to wear arm braces throughout his life.  Jacques returned to the sea and swam every day, growing stronger and stronger.  Looking through a pair of swim goggles, he discovered the life teaming in the Mediterranean.

He could only see so much from the surface but underwater suits were clumsy.  Jacques invented the first tanks and was soon swimming under water seeing what he could see.

From the Meditarranean, Jacques explored the oceans of the world.  When he made his way make to the Mediterranean, he was horrified by the polution and the damage that he saw all around him.  No longer a simple explorer, Jacques was now an advocate for the sea, pushing people to conserve and preserve this amazing resource.

Bold bright illustrations make this book a marvelous read aloud for a group.  Students will learn about early ocean science and conservation as well as just how much one man can accomplish.  Notes in the back of the book give additional information about Cousteau and also provide resources for additional study.

As always Yaccarino’s paintings bring life and vigor to the subject.

This book would make a great gift for fans of Cousteau or anyone interested in the sea or conservation.  Consider giving it as a gift to any adults who grew up watching The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau.

–SueBE

 

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