Into the Deep: The Life of Naturalist and Explorer William Beebe
(Paperback)
Publishing Details
Into the Deep: The Life of Naturalist and Explorer William Beebe
By (Author) David Sheldon
Illustrated by David Sheldon
Charlesbridge Publishing,U.S.
Charlesbridge Publishing,U.S.
1st January 2014
United States
Classifications
Children
Non Fiction
Childrens / Teenage general interest: Science and technology
Childrens / Teenage fiction and true stories
B
Physical Properties
Paperback
48
Width 216mm, Height 279mm, Spine 4mm
221g
Description
"To be a naturalist is better than to be a king." --William Beebe's journal, December 31, 1893 William Beebe was a pioneer in the field of ecology, the father of deep-sea exploration, and an avid conservationist. This picture-book biography charts the life of this famous naturalist from his childhood studying animals in New Jersey through his later years studying birds at the research station he started in Trinidad. Back matter includes quotes from Beebe, a glossary of terms, and an illustrated cross section of the Bathysphere, which Beebe helped design.
Reviews
Lifelong naturalist William Beebe is most famous for his record-breaking deep-sea dive. In 1934, he and partner Otis Barton descended 3,028 feet into the unexplored depths of the ocean in a bathysphere, invented for the purpose. This colorful introduction to Beebe's life for younger readers opens with his parents' encouragement of his interests in the natural world and his early work as a curator and collector of birds before he developed the idea of observing animals in their native habitat and began to focus on undersea life. Sheldon's lush double-page paintings, in acrylic, gouache and India ink, show young Will surrounded by animals, alive and stuffed, and the older man at work in a variety of settings. They offer some gentle humor--as when explorer Beebe's hat blows off, revealing his balding head--and show Beebe aging gracefully. Although the dive is the focal point of the story, the author tracks this early ecologist's entire career. Backmatter includes further information, quotations from Beebe's writings, and a glossary and bibliography. A fine offering for would-be explorers.
Kirkus Reviews
Author Bio
David Sheldon is the author/illustrator of BARNUM BROWN- DINOSAUR HUNTER (Walker). He has also illustrated several children's books including BUGS! (Zonderkidz). David lives near Asheville, North Carolina.
