Pre-order
1
of
1
The Deep Dark Ocean
Brief Description
Travel to the bottom of the ocean to explore the hidden deep sea environment with marine biologist Dr Helen Scales. The deep sea is the biggest, most mysterious part of our planet. For a long time, scientists thought it was just a huge empty space, devoid...
Read More
Format: Hardback
$3999
Unit price
/
Unavailable
Pre-order
Releases
24th
October 2026
(Approx. Date)
Pre-order "The Deep Dark Ocean" now to secure your copy from our first shipment
Found a better price? Request a price match
The Deep Dark Ocean
$3999
Unit price
/
Unavailable
Latest News
Review of Home Again by Jon Toogood
When it was revealed thatย Jon Toogoodย was to release a memoir I pretty much jumped out...
What I Read (and Played) in Bali
I always read more when I travel. Thereโs the flight over, the hotel breakfast where...
A Seven Sharp Visit and a Huge Thank You!
It's been a busy last week at Rawiri Place before our big move, with a...
A Puzzle for Every Season: Why I Love Seasonal Puzzles
From spooky Halloween puzzles to floral spring scenes and Christmas favourites we bring out every...
The Book Briefing - September 16th
This week there are so many exciting new book announcements out and about with covers,...
See moreTravel to the furthest depths of the ocean to explore the hidden deep-sea environment with marine biologist Dr. Helen Scales.
Travel to the bottom of the ocean to explore the hidden deep sea environment with marine biologist Dr Helen Scales.
Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and
still learning, it may not be perfect - your
feedback is welcome!
Description
Travel to the bottom of the ocean to explore the hidden deep sea environment with marine biologist Dr Helen Scales.
The deep sea is the biggest, most mysterious part of our planet. For a long time, scientists thought it was just a huge empty space, devoid of life: too dark, too cold, too much pressure and not enough food. Now we know differently: the deep sea is full of amazing life all the way to the very bottom. In order to survive down there, animals get up to all sorts of strange things and look completely different to anything else on Earth.
Written by award-winning marine biologist and author Dr Helen Scales, The Deep Dark Ocean comprehensively visualises the deep ocean environment and brings its beautiful and unbelievable quirks to life. Readers will find themselves immersed in the velvety dark landscapes of deep sea plains, trenches and mountain ranges, and discover ghostly octopuses, sea pigs, dancing crabs, coral and sponge forests, Elvis worms and Ninja lanternsharks among other remarkable creatures.
Book Details
INFORMATION
ISBN: 9780500653937
Publisher: Thames & Hudson Ltd
Format: Hardback
Date Published: 05 November 2026
Country: United Kingdom
Imprint: Thames & Hudson Ltd
Illustration: Illustrated in colour throughout; 48 Illustrations, color
Contributors:
- Illustrated by Ana Miminoshvili
Audience: Children
DIMENSIONS
Width: 230.0mm
Height: 300.0mm
Weight: 0g
Pages: 48
About the Author
Dr Helen Scales is a marine biologist, writer and broadcaster who divides her time between the UK and France. In 2025, her books for adults, What the Wild Sea Can Be, was shortlisted for the Women's Prize for Non-Fiction and the Wainwright Prize for Conservation Writing and longlisted for the Baillie Gifford Prize for Non-Fiction. Her children's books include the global bestseller What a Shell Can Tell and Scientists in the Wild: Antarctica, which was shortlisted for the Children's Travel Book of the Year and The Week Junior Children's STEM Book of the Year. She writes regularly for the Guardian, teaches at Cambridge University and is a storytelling ambassador for the Save Our Seas Foundation. @drhelenscales
Ana Miminoshvili is an award-winning illustrator and designer from Tbilisi, Georgia. Ana won the Communication Arts Excellence Award 2023 and the YOUNG GUNS 22 Creative Choice Award in 2022. Her clients include The New York Times, The New Yorker, GQ and The Washington Post, among others. @anano__
Also by Helen Scales
View all-
What the Wild Sea Can Be
LONGLISTED FOR THE WOMEN'S PRIZE FOR NON-FICTION 2025 No matter where we live, What the Wild Sea Can Be, Helen Scales observes in her bracing yet hopeful exploration of the future of the ocean. Beginning with its fascinating deep history, Scales links past to present to show how prehistoric ocean ecology holds lessons for the ocean of today. In elegant,...Paperback$3799Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips tomorrow -
The Shell Spotterโs Guide
Turn any beach into a treasure hunt with this beautifully illustrated book packed with surprising and delightful wonders of nature. Looking for seashells and learning their names is the perfect way to explore Britainโs coastline at leisure. Itโs a nostalgic, simple pleasure, and a way to discover some of natureโs most exquisite wonders. From the common cockle to the blue-rayed...Hardback$2799Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks -
Around the Ocean in 80 Fish and other Sea Life
Dive beneath the waves to meet 80 of the ocean's strangest and most surprising inhabitants. This beautifully illustrated aquatic world tour tells the fascinating stories of beguiling sea creatures and their ingenious feats of survival - from producing anti-freeze to enduring boiling temperatures - revealing the ways in which these seemingly remote creatures have shaped our own lives, whether through...Hardback$6100Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 2-3 weeks -
Wild Seas Jigsaw - 1000 Piece Jigsaw Puzzle
Discover the extraordinary ways the world's oceans and sea life are coming back from the brink and making remarkable recoveries in this stunning new 1000-piece jigsaw puzzle, with 20 uniquely shaped pieces that give a new twist to puzzling. Beautifully illustrated by Good Wives and Warriors and accompanied by a fold-out poster with text written by Dr Helen Scales, discover...1000 PieceGame$4499Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips tomorrow -
Shells... and what they hide inside
In this board book companion to What a Shell Can Tell, award-winning marine biologist and documentary maker, Helen Scales, introduces children ages 2-4 to the wonders of shells. With over 40 flaps to lift creating interactive opportunities on every page and stunningly lifelike illustrations, children are encouraged to observe, engage with, and understand a range of shells and environments. From...Board book$4300Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 2-3 weeks -
Around the World in 50 Fish
Dive beneath the waves to meet 50 extraordinary ocean inhabitants in this 1000-piece puzzle. Piece together seahorses and clownfish in the shallows, then travel to the depths and spot deep-sea creatures like vampire squid and dragonfish. Discover the fascinating stories of marine life from around the globe on the fold-out poster guide. A 1000-PIECE JIGSAW featuring sea life from all...1000 PieceJigsaw$5900Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 2-3 weeks -
Wild Earth Jigsaw
Piece together flora and fauna from around the globe in this 1000-piece puzzle, with 20 specially shaped pieces. Vibrantly illustrated by Good Wives and Warriors and accompanied by a fold-out poster with text written by Dr Helen Scales. Discover the extraordinary ways the world's land dwelling wildlife are surviving and thriving, find out how the Voeltzkow species chameleon was lost...1000 PieceJigsaw$6100Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 2-3 weeks -
Ocean Art
Artists have captured the marvels of ocean life throughout history. From fine art to scientific illustrations, these portrayals help us to appreciate and interpret the diversity of shapes, colours and patterns of the remarkable organisms that inhabit the oceans of the world. In Ocean Art, marine biologist and writer Helen Scales takes readers on a tour of ocean art, looking...Hardback$6900Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 2-3 weeks -
Into the Deep Sharing Puzzle
This jigsaw puzzle has 180 pieces in two different sizes: big pieces for little hands and little pieces for bigger hands. They all fit together to make one complete puzzle, so the whole family can enjoy working togetherโkids and grown-ups, beginners and experts! Spot all your favourite sea creatures while piecing together the oceanic scene, from the Whale Shark and...180 PieceJigsaw$5300Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 2-3 weeks -
What the Wild Sea Can Be
SHORTLISTED FOR THE WOMEN'S PRIZE FOR NON-FICTIONLONGLISTED FOR THE BAILLIE GIFFORD PRIZE FOR NON-FICTION No matter where we live, we are all ocean people, Helen Scales observes in her bracing yet hopeful exploration of the future of the ocean. Beginning with its fascinating deep history, Scales links past to present to show how prehistoric ocean ecology holds lessons for the...Paperback$2799Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks -
Oceanopedia
Discover an incredible world hidden beneath the waves with this beautiful encyclopedia of our oceans and the animals that live in and around them. Our planet's oceans are home to a breathtaking array of animals. From the neon squid that roam the open waters and the floating forests of the Sargasso Sea, to glow-in-the-dark sharks and the angel fish of...HardbackSold Out -
Return of the Wild
Discover the extraordinary ways nature has come back from the brink in this collection of 20 environmental success stories from around the world, written by Dr Helen Scales and beautifully illustrated by Good Wives and Warriors. From humpback whale populations thriving again in the freezing seas of Alaska and the recovery of kiwi populations in New Zealand, to the setting...HardbackSold Out
More from Children's Books
View all-
Gruffalo Granny
The brand new Gruffalo picture book from Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler. The Gruffalo said to his daughter one day, "Your Gruffalo Granny is coming to stay." Return to the deep dark wood with the first new Gruffalo story in over 20 years, and meet Gruffalo Granny as she visits the Gruffalo family. This fresh and exciting new Gruffalo adventure...Hardback$2499Elsewhere:$3000Unit price /UnavailableBackorderShips early October -
New ReleaseThe Comeback Kid
Charlie Boy might be just an ordinary kid, but he's about to get into some EXTRA-ordinary trouble... Get ready for this funny, fast-paced, friendship adventure with lots of kick. Meet Charlie Boy: skinny, small, looks like a strand of spaghetti. He and his best friend, Rocky the Lower Hutt Chief, are good at getting into trouble together. But when Charlie...Paperback$1799Elsewhere:$1999Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips tomorrow -
New ReleaseThe Neverfear
A world of richly-imagined wonder Cressida Cowell Itโs the Midsummer Feast on the Islet of Glimt and on this magical moonlit evening, the word on everyoneโs lips is bandits. Reports of masked men burning villages are spreading throughout the Archipelago, but worse is still to come: Christopher and Anya are ambushed and one of the people they love most is...Paperback$1999Elsewhere:$2299Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips tomorrow -
New ReleasePocket Observology
Pocket Observology is a practical field guide designed for those who love to explore and understand the natural world around them. Slip this guide out of your pocket to identify, measure, compare, or find clues to the things you encounter every day in nature. This pocket guide is a useful tool and a fun reminder of how to engage with...Paperback$2399Elsewhere:$2799Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips tomorrow -
New ReleaseMinecraft Annual 2027
The official Minecraft Annual 2027, full of updates, builds, activities, and more! Discover all there is to know about the past year of Minecraft in this exciting annual. Stuffed to the brim with updates, activities, step-by-step builds, and tips and tricks for the game, this book is a must-have for any minecrafter. This yearโs annual includes: Mob guides on happy...Hardback$1999Elsewhere:$2499Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips tomorrow -
New ReleaseGiant Heart
Meet Jonah Lomu, one of the greatest All Blacks of all time. His speed and strength on the rugby field made him famous around the world, and his fun and generous personality made him beloved, but all the while he faced a big battle with his health. โ[David Hillโs] stories are wonderful, full of action and are always teaching the...Hardback$1999Elsewhere:$2500Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips tomorrow -
New ReleaseMs Rachel: My First Little Library
Learn about colours, animals, words and numbers with Ms Rachel in this early learning boxset. This little set contains four board books that help introduce children to early concepts. Perfect for younger readers, each chunky book will keep little hands occupied at home, or on the move. And, once youโre done reading (and re-reading), the four books come together to...Board book$1599Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips tomorrow -
New ReleaseProtector of Beyond 1
Experience fierce magical creatures, perilous trials, and a heroine to root for in this 1st instalment in a new blockbuster fantasy series. The moment you enter the Arbiter, your fate is sealed. If you spark, you fight! And 12-year-old Elder Triss produces a spark like no other. Transported to the mysterious Beyond, Elder has no choice but to train for...Paperback$2199Elsewhere:$2400Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips tomorrow -
New ReleaseAnimalia 40th Anniversary Edition
A beautiful, foiled collector's edition to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Graeme Base's classic and bestselling Australian picture book, Animalia. Embark on a fantastical alphabetic adventure where each turn of the page unveils a rich tapestry of intricate illustrations tied to a unique letter of the alphabet. More than 5 million copies sold worldwide Children's Book Council of Australia (CBCA)...Hardback$2999Elsewhere:$3500Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips tomorrow -
New ReleaseThe Little Kiwi Builder
Oh no, the little kiwi builder's house is falling down! His screws have all come loose - what can he do? When the brickie, the plumber, the roofer, the sparky and the painter all come to help, it's looking good! Until, that night ... uh-oh! Perfect for: Anyone who likes fun and silly rhyming stories Reading aloud with little ones...Paperback$1899Elsewhere:$2199Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips tomorrow -
New ReleaseYou Choose Party Time
It's time to celebrate - Party Time is a brand new You Choose adventure! It's Party Time and you choose what happens! What kind of party will it be? Who will you invite? Which cake would you like to eat? Will you dance to a steel pan band or bagpipes? The possibilities are endless in this magical storytelling toolkit which...Hardback$2599Elsewhere:$3400Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips tomorrow -
New ReleaseMatihe! Achoo!
What happens when a grumpy tupua has to sneeze? Matihe! Achoo! is a bilingual story about the tupua Mataoho and his connection to the volcanoes of Tฤmaki Makaurau, Auckland. It comes with an action song to engage young readers! He pลซrฤkau e pฤ ana ki a Mataoho me ngฤ puia o Takamaki Makaurau. He tupua pukukino a Mataoho e noho...Paperback$1899Elsewhere:$2100Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips tomorrow
Why buy from us?
Book Hero is not a chain store or big box retailer. We're an independent 100% NZ-owned business on a mission to help more Kiwis rediscover a love of books and reading!
Service & Delivery
Our warehouse in Auckland holds over 100,000 books, toys, board games and puzzles in-stock so you're not waiting for your order to arrive from overseas.
Auckland Bookstore
We're primarily an online store, but for your convenience you can pick up your order for free from our bookstore, which is right next door to our warehouse in Hobsonville.
Our Gifting Service
Books make wonderful thoughtful gifts and we're here to help with gift-wrapping and cards. We can even send your gift directly to your loved one.
Children's Books lists from the team
Explore our curated lists from our heroes to find your next read!
-
![]()
![]()
![]()
Lizzy's listChildren's Books
Lizzy's Favourite Kiwi Pukapuka!
Here a huge bunch of incredible books for Kiwi kids of all ages, by amazing Kiwi authors! Including picture books and chapter...View the list -
![]()
![]()
![]()
Lizzy's listChildren's Books
Books for Helping Kids with Emotions!
Books are a great way to help children learn about emotions - giving them the language to name and recognize how they...View the list -
![]()
![]()
![]()
Lizzy's listChildren's Books
Chapter Books for the Classroom
Looking for some fresh inspirationย when it comes to reading to your class? Lizzy has you covered with her chapter book recommendations!View the list -
![]()
![]()
![]()
Lizzy's listChildren's Books
Travel Books for Tamariki
Going on a trip with your children? There are some amazing pukapuka (books) that are perfect for young travelers! Check out this...View the list -
![]()
![]()
![]()
Lizzy's listChildren's Books
Lizzy's Favourite Picture Books
A collection of my favourite picture books to read aloud with my child and keep on the bookshelf as a reminder of...View the list
