THE DEEP DIVE an adventure about emotions

Join Desmond, a young and curious seal, on an extraordinary underwater adventure in "The Deep Dive." In this heartwarming and beautifully illustrated picture book, children will embark on a journey into the depths of the ocean and the depths of their own emotions.
Why "The Deep Dive" Matters:
"The Deep Dive" is not your ordinary picture book; it's a transformational tool for understanding and embracing the beautiful spectrum of human emotions. This touching and thought-provoking story follows Desmond, a young seal, as he embarks on an underwater adventure, discovering emotions like happiness, fear, and curiosity in the depths of the ocean. This book serves as a conversation starter, encouraging both children and adults to explore and express their feelings openly and honestly.
1. Support Emotional Growth: "The Deep Dive" offers a unique opportunity for children to learn about their emotions in a fun and relatable way. It helps them develop emotional intelligence, a crucial life skill.
2. Encourage Open Dialogue: This book sparks conversations about feelings, making it an excellent resource for parents and teachers to discuss emotions with children, fostering a supportive and understanding environment.
3. Complement Your Teaching: Whether you're teaching psychology, child development, or simply want to promote emotional well-being in your classes, "The Deep Dive" can be an invaluable addition to your curriculum.
4. Benefit from Our Resources: We are here to support you. When you partner with us, you gain access to a range of educational materials, discussion guides, and activities that complement the book and enrich the learning experience.

THE AUTHOR

Having spent a significant part of their career as a children's pastor, Dave has a deep understanding of the challenges parents face in raising emotionally resilient and empathetic children. Drawing upon this wealth of experience, they have transitioned seamlessly into the role of a Certified Parent Coach/Instructor, guiding and supporting parents on their own journeys of nurturing emotionally healthy children. Dave's insights, rooted in both professional expertise and genuine compassion, have empowered countless parents to navigate the complex terrain of childhood emotions with confidence and grace.

Editorial Reviews

Reviewed by Doreen Chombu for Readers' Favorite

The Deep Dive is a children's picture book written by Dave Cales with illustrations by Fabian Alvarez and Madeline Jhun. The story teaches children about emotions and follows the seals of Ice-Landia Town on the day the children dive into the ocean for the first time. Young Desmond, also known as Des, signs up for the dive and embarks on an adventure into the ocean. However, his adventure is not all sunshine and roses. He discovers trash polluting the ocean, fishermen catching young seals, and many other things that make him feel angry, sad, and worried. Fortunately, as he dives deeper, he sees something that gives him hope and makes him feel joy and happiness. When Des resurfaces, he discusses his emotions with his parents, who assure him that it is okay to express how he feels. Get a copy of this book to join Des on his adventure and learn about emotions.

The Deep Dive is a heartwarming book that encourages young readers to explore and express their emotions. The book covers important lessons that children can apply in their everyday lives, such as not being ashamed of their emotions, the importance of discussing what they feel with their family and friends, and always remembering that they are loved and cared for. Dave Cales does an excellent job of conveying these messages and uses a calm tone and simple words that children will understand and appreciate. Additionally, the book raises awareness about pollution and its impact on the ocean and sea creatures. Colorful illustrations perfectly correspond with the story and bring the characters to life. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and look forward to reading more from this author. Great work!

Reviewed by Holly Conners for Feathered Quill

On the surface, The Deep Dive appears to be a book about a young seal exploring the world below a nearby iceberg. It is, however, a clever way to introduce children to the wide range of emotions that they may feel on a daily basis. Strong emotions can be scary and confusing to a young child, and author Dave Cales, who has extensive experience as a children’s pastor, obviously understands how emotions can mystify youngsters. Through the use of an adorable seal, the author assures readers that the emotions they are feeling are normal and it is possible to learn how to understand them. In addition, at the back of the book is a QR code to scan to get a free download of tools to help parents “better connect” with their children. While the story was very sweet and the artwork adorable, there was a bit of confusion for my child (and myself) when Desmond first followed the bright light to a point where he saw several things that made him angry. My son asked if the seal was really seeing those things or if they were pretend (ex. - Desmond's cousins Jak Jak and Maddie were on the surface cheering him on, but then were in the bright light below the iceberg fighting). A quick mention in the text of what Desmond kept seeing in the caves (memories?), could clear up that confusion. Otherwise, this is an excellent book for youngsters to help deal with a wide range of confusing emotions.

Quill says: The Deep Dive explores the variety of emotions that children feel in a simple and reassuring way and shows them it is okay to have those emotions.