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Lisa Regan studied English and Linguistics at the University of Nottingham and gained a postgraduate diploma in Publishing at West Herts College. She has written over 400 books, including picture books, puzzle books and children's reference. She lives in Colchester, Essex.
A glow-in-the-dark book about amazing ocean creatures that actually light up in the darkness, is sure to be a hit. This picture book takes readers to the depths of the ocean to meet organisms big and small--and cute and creepy--that use the power of light to hunt, hide, attract a mate, or who knows what! Each two-page spread features a different creature, complete with eye-popping photos set against black pages, details on how and why they light up, and cool facts to trot out at recess. The accessible text includes pronunciation guides that will have children and adults alike sounding like scientists. Glow Down Deep is a book that shines a light on the often-hidden, awe-inspiring phenomena of bioluminescence, biofluorescence, and ultraviolet light.-- (12/03/2020) Big, ghostly stock photos enhanced with glow-in-the-dark elements shed light on 22 sea creatures that exhibit either biofluorescence or bioluminescence. For readers a little hazy on the difference, Regan opens by defining the two terms and then, claiming that over 90 percent of all marine organisms feature one or the other, presents pithy but exact introductions paired to a riveting series of ultra--close-up portraits, dimly lit and placed against solid black backgrounds. From plankton, corals, and various kinds of jellies to the bounteously toothy likes of the dragonfish and viperfish, all of these creatures present a thrillingly exotic otherness--their angular lines or drifting, graceful tentacles enhanced by added dots and swirls of phosphorescent overlay (not seen). Happily, along with describing each animal's major features and typical habitat, the author carefully notes that most are smaller than they look here (krill, for instance, are not much bigger than a paper clip ). She also has some news flashes for anyone who thinks that those undersea glimmers are used only to attract prey and mates...as it turns out, krill and hatchetfish employ counter-illumination as a defense, and some sea cucumbers can actually drive predators away by strobing like a burglar alarm. From the lenticular squid writhing on the front cover on, rarely have denizens of the deep looked more eerily appealing. Young readers who take the dive will emerge with glowing reports.-- (06/16/2020)
