ADVENTURES OF CHARLOTTE AND HENRY

A magic book sends a little girl and her dog adventuring into the ocean depths.

Signore’s entertaining, fact-based book for ages 6 to 9, about best friends and explorers Charlotte and her dog, Henry, launches an early reader series that details some of the Earth’s astonishing natural wonders. In this entry, thanks to a mysterious, glowing book and new friends they meet along the way, the adventurous pair visit the Mariana Trench. Written in loose verse and rhythmic prose, the book is an appealing mix of storytelling and educational content. The journey begins with Claudius Ptolemy, the 2nd-century Greco-Roman astronomer, mathematician, and geographer, who maps the way to the Mariana Trench, “the deepest, darkest place in the whole wide ocean.” Ptolemy isn’t the only real-life figure the pair encounter; on a beach, where the map’s dotted line “drifts out to sea,” they meet the late Australian conservationist Steve Irwin, who helps them with a sea turtle rescue and sees them off on a kiteboard ride across the ocean. After a surprise appearance by famed oceanographer Jacques Cousteau, they travel to his famous ship, the Calypso, on the back of a friendly whale, lulled to sleep by its song. Once aboard, renowned marine biologist Sylvia Earle takes them on a submersible trip into the Mariana Trench. The expressive narrative, conveying action and emotion with a light touch, highlights the drama of the event: Winched up from the Calypso’s deck, the submersible swings out “wide over open sea, dangling there like a yo-yo,” then sunlight fades to black as the small craft descends deeper and deeper. The author’s captivating black-and-white spot illustrations add visual appeal, and complementary elements offer additional content, such as simply worded “Ocean Facts,” a glossary that defines words and terms, and a “STEM & SEL” questionnaire that asks readers to “Think About the Ocean,” “Think Like a Scientist,” and “Think With a Brave Heart.”

Simple but effective storytelling to spark children’s curiosity and appreciation for the wider natural world.