Undersea Creatures

Earth is a water planet-almost two-thirds of it is covered by ocean-and while a sliver of life exists on land, most of the planet's population thrives in the seas. Life underwater requires special adaptations that sound more at home in a special-effects lab than in one of the earth's largest ecosystems. Internal lights help dwellers of the deep seas pierce the darkness. Regenerating teeth keep hunters armed and sharp. Color-changing abilities hide vulnerable animals from predation. From the Great White Shark at the top of the food-chain to the Leafy Sea Dragon at the bottom, readers can explore what it takes to survive in this extremely crowded, high-pressure, watery world.

Nam Nguyen has a B.A. in Integrative Biology from the University of California at Berkeley with
specialization in physiology and animal behavior, as well as an advanced degree in Creative Writing from Emerson College. She has worked at Berkeley's Lawrence Hall of Science as a Chemistry and
Biology instructor, the San Francisco Bay Area Discovery Museum as an science advisor, and volunteered at Boston's Franklin Park Zoo in the children's area. In addition, she reviewed video games for children at Boston's MacDirectory Magazine, giving her a keen appreciation of how kids interact with media of all kinds, and a flair for explaining it. She lives in Benicia, California.

Sarah Hines Stephens is a professional writer who lives in Oakland, California. As a mother of two she has done a wide range of volunteer teaching assignments with children in the 8 to 12 age range, and has authored a wide range of educational books including Show Off, an activities book featuring science, nature, and other facts, and How to Bring Up Baby, for new parents. She was also instrumental in the creation of a number of branded books for the Gymboree Play & Music Programs, focusing on education and activities for young children.