This book has everything in it about the ocean. I loved the descriptions of the animals and the little facts here and there. One of my favourite animals featured is the rainbow-coloured scale worm, which Hume has suggested should be called something more suitable like ‘disco glittersnapper’ or ‘rainbow ravager’.
The book is separated into different sections beginning with the deep ocean and moving on to shallow seas and wetlands. Hume provides information on a variety of things from different plants (such as the floating bladderwort, a vicious omnivorous plant that looks like some kind of monster from Stranger Things) to ecosystems and history. It also features a handy visual guide at the end of the book, so little ones can flick through and find their favourites.
The illustrations are gorgeous and complement the stunning photography that features throughout. The pages are big and the font is large and easy to read – perfect for its intended audience.
An Anthology of Aquatic Life has a huge encyclopaedic amount of knowledge in it that will suit a big age range from little ones who want to look at the pictures, to primary school children who will be absorbed by the facts. As author Sam Hume states in the introduction to this book ‘If you have an explorer's spirit, and a thirst for finding something new, then aquatic life will never disappoint.’
The physical book itself
is stunning with a handsome deep blue hardcover with gold holographic foil
illustrations and title, along with gold gilt edging on the pages – making it
pretty enough to live on the coffee table, but entertaining enough to keep kids
glued to the pages.
Title: An Anthology of Aquatic Life
Author: Sam Hume
Illustrators: Angela Rizza and Daniel Long
Publisher: DK, $39.99
Publication Date: 20 September, 2022
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9780241546321
For ages: 7 - 9
Type: Non-Fiction
