Alex and Jordan explore Stephen's visit to a big aquarium with an interview and research. Stephen shares his thoughts about marine life, and how frogs kept him calm after someone suggests that he touch a clearnose skate. Jordan creates a report with five North American animals' size, habitat, and life cycle. Then together, Alex and Jordan write a story titled, Stephen's Visit to the Aquarium!

The Big Aquarium Adventure is designed for neurodivergent or reluctant readers with embedded comprehension strategies at the beginning and end of each chapter. This 96-page, 2700 word fully illustrated book takes informational fiction to a new level by combining nonfiction and storytelling within the same book with an interview, expository nonfiction, and storytelling. The backmatter contains resources including a glossary, story mountain, look-back questions, story summary, and tips for adults to support struggling readers.

The text is based on 4th and 5th grade content but written at a 2nd to 3rd grade level. Illustrations are exquisite and support the text by adding additional humor and context. This is the first book in the Alex and Jordan Explore series, which is sensory friendly and models how to handle anxiety. Independent readers will love the ease of learning about Stephen's visit to The Big Aquarium in Baltimore, while parents and educators can reinforce the Think Aheads and Think Behinds with engaging conversation.

This book is the result of Roop's undergraduate thesis, Developmental Texts for Students with Autism; A Safe Space in the Written World, which is available at nancyroop.com/about. Even though this book is for and about neurodivergent reluctant readers, all readers ready for early chapter books will enjoy this fun adventure at the aquarium.

In May 2025, The Big Aquarium Adventure earned the IBPA Gold Medal for Interior Design and also a Silver Medal in the Animal and Pet Catagory.

Nancy Roop promotes neurodiversity and inclusion by publishing developmental books and speaking at educational conferences—or to anyone, anywhere. She is also a favorite Substitute Teacher in local Special Ed classrooms.

Roop designed an early chapter book series with embedded comprehension strategies, so readers learn how to extract meaning from texts. These developmental books look like traditional books, but are sensory-friendly, model social connections, and support self-regulation. She published The Big Aquarium Adventure; Learn About frogs, fish, turtles, sharks, and skates in 2024. She is working on the Spanish version and the prequel, Explore the Library—both due out in 2026. She creates resources for educators and parents at nancyroop.com.

"An interactive, fact-filled book for early and reluctant readers with an interest in marine life.In Roop's children's chapter book, three youngsters learn about sea creatures and how to deal with overwhelming feelings.Fourth-grader Stephen loves frogs; his pal Alex, who's in fifth grade, is an aspiring journalist; and Alex's classmate, Jordan, enjoys research. When Alex learns that Stephen visited an aquarium while on vacation in Baltimore, he asks to interview him. Stephen helpfully describes the fish, including sandbar sharks, turtles, and frogs he observed. Stephen also recalls shaking with fear... He then reveals the tools that he used to manage his anxiety: He paused, remembered the toy frog he kept in his pocket to help calm his nerves, took deep breaths, and returned to the more peaceful frog area of the aquarium. When Jordan hears about the interview, she embarks on a research mission and creates an informative report that features simple facts, maps, drawings, and diagrams that identify the body parts and life cycles of some of sea creatures...Boune's tranquil full-color cartoon illustrations effectively break up the text...Developing readers will appreciate the straightforward plot, concise sentences, and simple questions. The various characters are portrayed with a range of skin tones.An interactive, fact-filled book for early and reluctant readers with an interest in marine life." — 

Kirkus Reviews

, https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/nancy-roop/the-big-aquarium-adventure/

"With inviting art and an inventive, intuitive layout blending comics, instant messages, and some more traditional text elements, this interactive children's book kicks off Roop's Alex and Jordan Explore series with a splash. Young Stephen shares his story of a family vacation to...with his friend, Alex, who decides to use Stephen's story as a chance to brush up on his interviewing skills. Through Stephen's narrative young readers will learn about frogs, turtles, sharks, and skates, while Alex and later Jordan demonstrate practical skills like how to conduct an interview, how to research for facts for a report, and the difference between writing fiction and nonfiction, plus vital guidance about handling some complex emotions.Roop engages young readers through interactive questions, vibrant images of sea and amphibian life, and thought-provoking comparison charts that will get young minds thinking. Each character provides young readers with a new lesson Each chapter encourages readers to pause and think about the information provided and also asks engaging questions.Comparable Titles:Cass Kim's Stephanie's Spectacular Aquarium Visit, Laura Daisy's The Amazing Adventures of Us.Takeaway: Smart chapter book about sea life, researching, handling emotions, and more.Production gradesCover: A Design and typography: A Illustrations: A Editing: A- Marketing copy: A" — 

Booklife Reviews

, https://booklife.com/project/the-big-aquarium-adventure-learn-about-frogs-fish-turtles-sharks-and-skates-90872

"Clarion Rating: 5 out of 5The first book in the Alex and Jordan Explore series, The Big Aquarium Adventure centers marine life and its allure....a fourth grader recounts his first visit to an aquarium, encouraging research and enlightenment.Stephen visits an aquarium...Alex proceeds to quiz Stephen... With Stephen's permission, Alex shares all that he learned with his friend, Jordan, who uses the information to create an insightful report. Intrigued and encouraged by their findings, the duo write a story, making it as factual as possible.The book's neat format makes the presented information appealing. During the interview, circles with Alex's and Stephen's faces are placed beside what they say, making their casual chatting experience visual, as in a mobile application. The characters' thoughts are also captured in bubbles that add humor to the story, as when Stephen thinks about how Alex is always asking questions at the beginning and how he is glad to be done with the interview when it's over... Lessons abound:...included in the book are activities and questions that enable introspection and interactive discussions. And Jordan's research and report...is a handy template of what a report should contain. It shares the book's warm color scheme and includes concise information about five sea animals that live in or near the eastern United States. At the end of the report, these five sea animals are compared and contrasted." — 

Foreword Clarion Reviews

, https://www.forewordreviews.com/reviews/the-big-aquarium-adventure/

"To describe this as a chapter book does not do it justice. The integration of comprehension prompts enables young readers to engage actively with the text and strengthen their comprehension skills in a natural, accessible way. By combining genres, Roop allows readers to approach the text in a way that is consistent with their strengths and preferences, while inviting them to expand their comfort zone. The backmatter and online resources add another layer of support. This is a chapter book for all readers and a useful resource for those who are supporting young, reluctant, or developing readers. Well done!" — Patty Ruhfus, MEd., Reading Specialist at PGR Teaches

"This book is wonderful for guiding para educators through the process of shared reading. Emotional regulation and shared experiences are key for students to be able to learn in the classroom, and Stephen is a great role model!" — Megan Cavanaugh, MA.SPEd., QBHP, Special Ed Teacher

"The Big Aquarium Adventureis a perfect high-interest book (sea life, sharks and frogs) to engage upper elementary students who struggle with reading. The format very cleverly builds in repetition of vocabulary and science concepts in a way that involves the reader in problem-solving strategies and thinking activities that neurodiverse students need to learn to use. This book provides an excellent departure from the typical middle level chapter books." — Linda Hodgdon, CCC-SLP, author, Visual Strategies for Improving Communication