Giant Squid

May 1, 2012

Gr 4-6-It took centuries before scientists realized that there was an actual, living creature behind sailors' tales of a colossal sea monster. This introduction briefly recounts some of the legends and historical clues that led to the giant squid's identification in the 19th century before focusing on Dr. Clyde Roper, a renowned specialist on cephalopods (and coauthor) who made it his life's work to study the species; no live specimen had ever been captured or observed in its deep-sea habitat. The text describes how Roper gathered facts by autopsying the carcasses of giant squids and sperm whales (its chief predator), examining other squid species, etc.; it also outlines several expeditions he led in search of a live specimen. It was a Japanese scientist, however, who took the first photographs and filmed the first video of a living giant squid (in 2004 and 2006, respectively), and some of those images are included here. Giant Squid is clearly written, albeit loosely organized. Numerous, oddly placed sidebars with related information detract from the main text, as does the busy format; from one to three illustrations accompany the text on most pages-a jumble of mostly clear black-and-white and color photos, drawings, sketches, etc. H.P. Newquist's Here There Be Monsters: the Legendary Kraken and the Giant Squid (Houghton Harcourt, 2010) covers the same topic in more detail and mentions Roper's work, making it a better choice.-Karey Wehner, formerly at San Francisco Public Library

Copyright 2012 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

March 15, 2012
Grades 4-6 Though yet to be observed in its natural environment, the giant squid (and its heavier Antarctic cousin, the colossal squid) is slowly giving up its secrets thanks to Clyde Roper, one of the world's leading teuthologists. Along with a quick tally of historical encounters with the creatures, this book presents accounts of several of Roper's undersea expeditionsalong with those of Japanese expert Tsunemi Kuboderaand summarizes in clear, simple language what has been learned or inferred about the monsters' physical structures, behavior, and life cycle. Some memorable color photos, including views of Roper lying down beside a dead squid to show its length, posing next to a headlamp-size eyeball, and deep in the bloody guts of a recently beached sperm whale add plenty of visual appeal (of a sort) to the generous array of charts, maps, and painted images. This makes rewarding reading for fans of the Scientists in the Field series, or anyone interested in learning more about some of the world's largest and most outstandingly alien-looking animals.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2012, American Library Association.)

January 1, 2013
With Clyde F. E. Roper. Marine biologist Roper has spent his professional life studying squid and searching for a live giant squid, an elusive deep sea creature. This book explores the facts and fiction surrounding this cephalopod and the work of a dedicated scientist. The narrative, a compelling mix of personal experience, history, and scientific findings, is supported by well-captioned photographs and illustrations. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind.

(Copyright 2013 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)