In veterinarian and television host Jess French's contribution to the DK Kid's nonfiction Nature series, amazing mysteries that lurk beneath the blue waves of Earth's oceans take center stage. French explores oceanic geography, water, plants and, of course, wildlife. Her fascinating facts are accompanied by stunning photographs and bold, colorful illustrations by Claire McElfatrick, all providing a glimpse into this astounding, watery world.
French turns learning about the ocean and its inhabitants into an adventure as she takes her readers from the water's surface down to the ocean floor, with full-page spreads that invite interaction, making readers turn the book from its landscape format to portrait to see the full scope of the illustration. Light and temperatures drop off the further down one travels, but French's tour is infused with her own giddy attraction for it, illuminating the smallest of creatures and the most delicate of plants. Mammals, fish, birds and reptiles all populate her section on ocean animals, while reefs, meadows and forests are explored in ocean habitats. Combined, these two subject areas offer readers insight into animal movements (like the spiny lobsters marching across the ocean floor), family matters ("When sperm whales dive into deeper waters, they leave their calves at the surface with other mothers"), even safety, such as the stonefish's ability to hide in plain sight by remaining still on the floor of a reef.
French's love for the ocean and all the life that inhabits it is contagious, and McElfatrick's bright, detailed art is mesmerizing. Earth's Incredible Oceans should leave readers of all ages with an appreciation for the value and fragility of this extraordinary part of the planet. --Jen Forbus, freelancer