W Is for Waves: An Ocean Alphabet

From the mythological underwater city of Atlantis to the amount of water that covers Earth's surface, the oceanic world has challenged and intrigued man since recorded time. And it seems that as much as we do know already, there is so much more to learn. In W is for Waves: An Ocean Alphabet water enthusiasts and budding scientists are given an A to Z tour of the ocean's depths and the creatures that inhabit them. Did you know that jellyfish can range in size from one inch to 200 feet long? And what about the mysterious Scandinavian sea monster called the kraken? Was it a myth or did it really exist? Learn about thermohaline currents, dolphin intelligence, and the largest living structure in the world (Australia's Great Barrier Reef). In W is for Waves young readers can explore the mysteries of the deep without getting their feet wet.Marie and Roland Smith grew up in Oregon and live on a small farm south of Portland. Roland is the author of many animal and adventure books for children. They also coauthored B is for Beaver: An Oregon Alphabet and Z is for Zookeeper: A Zoo Alphabet. John Megahan is a Senior Biological Illustrator at the University of Michigan's Museum of Zoology. He has also done freelance work for Weyerhauser, St. Martin's Press, MIT Press, The American Fisheries Society, Arizona Highways magazine, Oregon State University, and others. John lives in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Roland Smith is the New York Times bestselling author of more than forty books for young people. Among his books are the I, Q series, Peak, Beneath, Above, Zach’s Lie, the Cryptid Hunters series, Storm Runners, The Switch, and Elephant Run. Before becoming a full-time writer, he spent more than twenty years working with wildlife all over the world. He was a zookeeper, zoo curator, assistant zoo director, and research biologist. He was instrumental in reintroducing the red wolf back into the wild, and he was a consultant on the Yellowstone National Park gray wolf translocation. Roland and his wife, Marie, split their time between Bentonville, Arkansas, and their small farm near Portland, Oregon.

Author Marie Smith was born and raised in Oregon. She lives on a small farm outside of Portland that she shares with a horse, a goat, two dogs, two cats, and another author, Roland Smith. Together Marie and Roland have written five alphabet books. Besides visiting schools and writing, she spends time traveling across country visiting her four grandsons.

John studied both science and art and in the early 90s decided to combine his interests in art and biology and became a biological illustrator. He is currently a Senior Biological Illustrator at the University of Michigan's Museum of Zoology and has taught several classes as an adjunct lecturer at the University of Michigan's School of Art. His past work has taken him to work on salmon in eastern Oregon, salamanders in western Oregon, Marbled Murrelets and sea lions on the Oregon coast, and marine invertebrates in Oregon and Alaska. John has also done freelance work for Weyerhauser, St. Martin's Press, MIT press, The American Fisheries Society, Arizona Highways, Oregon State University, and others. John and his family live in Ann Arbor, Michigan.