Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

Arnosky follows Creep and Flutter and Slither and Crawl by taking to the water, allowing readers to discover aquatic species through a mock nature journal and luminous illustrations. Foldout pages provide an immersive perspective on the underwater world, hinting at the ocean-s magnitude and diversity. Arnosky-s prose is both solidly informational and lyrical as it introduces each animal: -Some jellyfish such as the moon jellyfish and upside-down jellyfish can swim from place to place by undulating their bodies.- Shaded pencil drawings of sea life with brief, handwritten descriptions add to the sense that readers are in the field alongside Arnosky. His descriptive accounts of his wild adventures-such as photographing sharks by moonlight-are intimate and exciting; his respect for the natural world, contagious. Ages 6-10. Agent: Susan Schulman, Susan Schulman Literary Agency. (Apr.)

Horn Book (Tue Apr 01 00:00:00 CDT 2014)

This follow-up to Slither and Crawl and Creep and Flutter examines marine animals, including stingrays, dolphins, jellyfish, and sharks. In a conversational tone, Arnosky relates personal yet information-filled stories of encountering these creatures while boating or simply wading in the ocean. Detailed paintings illustrate the text, and several foldout spreads add to the appeal of this up-close look at the sea. Reading list.

School Library Journal Starred Review (Wed May 01 00:00:00 CDT 2013)

Gr 2-5 Arnosky has been directing his painterly eye and literary hand to the natural world for many years, ranging from artful works on raccoons in a cornfield to taloned raptors in the ether. Here he turns his considerable talents to life in the sea in the style of previous works such as Thunder Birds: Nature's Flying Predators (2011) and Slither and Crawl: Eye to Eye with Reptiles (2009, both Sterling). With foldout pages and many life-size illustrations, this overview is less tightly focused, touching on sea life from coral reefs to sailfish, from sea jellies to fiddler crabs, all depicted in a burst of shimmering blues and greens with splashes of yellow. The informative and lucid text is larded with personal experiences as Arnosky wades, kayaks, boats, and fishes in the "sparkling" world of water he so obviously enjoys. Soft pencil sketches ranging from coral species to sharks' tails slip along the outer margins of the pages of text, a gentle counterpoint to the exuberant, colorful acrylics. Informative, to be sure, and eminently readable, this dynamic title will be an explosive visual feast for many children.— Patricia Manning, formerly at Eastchester Public Library, NY