Solving the Puzzle Under the Sea by Robert Burleigh

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The picture book Solving the Puzzle Under the Sea by Robert Burleigh (illustrated by Raul Colon; Paula Wiseman Books, 2016) tells the true story of Marie Tharp, who was the first to map the ocean’s floor between 1957 and 1977. Because of her work in mapping the seafloor, she was able to corroborate Alfred Wegener’s theory that the Earth’s crust is made of plates that are moving.

The text is very relatable, told from the (fictional) first person perspective of Marie herself. It begins as she learned about maps as a child and then as her curiosity about maps lead to a career as a scientist. As a woman scientist in the 1940s and 1950s, she faced gender discrimination but her determination lead her to her discoveries. She used sounding to measure how deep the ocean is and what shapes and mountains hide down there. Clear and appropriate illustrations show contour maps to show the surface under the sea.

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Reviewed on May 27, 2024

About the author 

Rebecca Reid

Rebecca Reid is a homeschooling, stay-at-home mother seeking to make the journey of life-long learning fun by reading lots of good books. Rebecca Reads provides reviews of children's literature she has enjoyed with her children; nonfiction that enhances understanding of educational philosophies, history and more; and classical literature that Rebecca enjoys reading.

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