"In a whirl of bubbles, a friendly seal pup arrives.
He was born on a nearby island and has grown
strong on his mother's warm milk. Now he is on
an adventure to find food all on his own. Come on,
the pup seems to say, swim deeper and see what
adventures you can find."
The authors of this remarkable book for children are the founders of the Sea Change Project. They also played a role in helping produce the Netflix film My Octopus Teacher. If you haven't seen it yet, it is worth your attention. Check it out!
This exploration of the Great African Seaforest is beautifully photographed and presented to show young readers what a kelp forest looks like. It is, as they say, magical to see the waving fronds, the infused sunlight, the clear waters, and a diver all set to dive down for a visit.
"Below the surface, the seaforest
is alive with curious creatures!"
The seal described above is but one of them. With every turn of the page, readers are invited to take a close look at some of the many creatures who call this place home. Simple, gently flowing text matches the quiet surroundings and allows a relaxed and informative visit below the surface of the sea. The amazing images allow readers to see a shy octopus do her best to camouflage herself from sight, then swirl a black cloud of ink to hide her escape, before finally appearing as she waves her arms and moves quickly away from the unwelcome attention.
The photographs are mesmerizing, holding attention from a distance and from up close and personal. At times, it is almost impossible to tell exactly what is there.
"In fact, it seems like everyone in
the seaforest is hiding ... but from what?"
Is it a cow shark? Or a pyjama shark? Too soon it is time to return to the surface. Dolphins are there to help divers find their way back. Just follow along, and never forget all the beauty that is in this very special ecosystem.
Final pages include a note from the authors and thumbnail photos of each creature visited, with a short descriptive paragraph about each.
What an accomplishment!
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