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 struggling 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 common core content but written at a third-grade level (Lexile 3.6). 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 my undergraduate thesis, Developmental Texts for Students with Autism; A Safe Space in the Written World, which is available at nancyroop.com/about. Autism is not the focus, and it is not mentioned. 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.
Editorial Reviews from
Kirkus Reviews: "An interactive, fact-filled book for early and reluctant readers with an interest in marine life."
Publisher's Weekly Booklife Reviews: "Smart chapter book about sea life, researching, handling emotions, and more."
Foreword Clarion Reviews: 5-star Rating! "The book's neat format makes the presented information appealing. During the interview, circles with . . . 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."
Nancy Roop promotes neurodiversity and inclusion by speaking at educational conferences--or to anyone, anywhere. She created a developmental book format which separates the tasks of reading and provides additional strategies to enhance reading comprehension. The Big Aquarium Adventure won the Independent Book Publisher's Association Gold Award for Interior Design.
Roop's work in Special Education continues as a Substitute Teacher and advocate near Detroit, Michigan. She speaks nationally about the importance of teaching students how to self-regulate so their brain is ready to learn. Read more at nancyroop.com/blog.
Mariana Boune is currently writing and illustrating her own kidlit graphic novels. Her work is known online as M.RYBO.
"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/
"Each character provides young readers with a new lesson." — Booklife Reviews, https://booklife.com/booklife-review/9781957828015
"Clarion rating is 5 out of 5. The Big Aquarium Adventure centers marine life and its allure." — Forward Clarion Review, https://www.forewordreviews.com/reviews/the-big-aquarium-adventure/
"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." — Linda Hodgdon, CCC-SLP, author, Visual Strategies for Improving Communication
"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
"Well suited for reading WITH someone any age from 7 - 11 and up, especially ESL, and great for gifting to everyone, but especially to a school or your local public library!" — Jan, Good Reads; https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/205699514-the-big-aquarium-adventure?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=IWCLizLtoK&rank=1
"My 6 year old saw it and snatched it out of my hands and has not put it down. He is not the kind of kid who snatches things, either so this was a big deal! He excitedly showed me Stephen's frog, and has been glued to it." — Belle F., Good Reads; https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/205699514-the-big-aquarium-adventure?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=IWCLizLtoK&rank=1
"A great children's novel that has a good storyline and will aid in learning. Not only does the book provide facts and information about the sea life, it also provides great information about how to lay out facts and report on them." — Ron Baumer, Good Reads; https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/205699514-the-big-aquarium-adventure?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=IWCLizLtoK&rank=1
"I am also an autistic reviewer (whose special interest is aquariums and sharks) and I felt a kinship to Stephen and appreciate the small nods to his autism and his friends reactions to the way he reacts." — Moon Ann, Good Reads; https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/205699514-the-big-aquarium-adventure?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=IWCLizLtoK&rank=1
"This is a children's non-fiction book focused on an adventure at an aquarium. It has chapter previews at the beginning of each chapter with keywords, pause and think ahead, and other interesting information. Each chapter ends with a pause and think back section. The writing and graphics are simple and interesting for children." — Samantha, Good Reads; https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/205699514-the-big-aquarium-adventure?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=IWCLizLtoK&rank=1
