Ocean anatomy The curious parts & pieces of the world under the sea

Timely, important, and serious information does not have to be tough to digest. The latest book in Rothman's illustrated Anatomy series (after Food Anatomy, 2016), is a spectacularly appealing overview of everything to do with the ocean that presents information with beauty and charm. It covers many aspects of nearly everything oceanic in a depth that informs the curious and sends others off to greater levels of research. The ocean itself, fish, starfish, whales, crabs, lighthouses, and polar bears are all touched on in primarily pictorial form reminiscent of the old reference standard, the visual dictionary. The true art of the book lies in its ability express so many oceanic facets with scientific accuracy in so few pages, with Rothman's art uplifting contributor John Nierkrasz's research. This lovely book will appeal to readers of all ages, whether they want to sit and read or just dip their toes in. It should be in every library's circulating collection.

Gr 7 Up--Following the successful approach used with Farm Anatomy, Nature Anatomy, and Food Anatomy, Rothman introduces a wide array of ocean-related facts through words and pictures. Coverage includes marine geology, plant and animal life, and the impact of humans on oceans around the world. The writing is clear, lively, and informative. Each spread is filled with a variety of colorful, appealing, and scientifically accurate drawings. Some pages identify the anatomy of a single species with captions; others show several related species with a paragraph of description; some list just name and size. Length and/or weight is provided for many species drawings but not all. Useful diagrams demonstrate concepts such as tidal zones and ocean currents. The levels of information vary from topic to topic. Readers learn many fascinating facts in a spread about nudibranchs, for example, while the walrus receives just a single drawing and its typical weight. There is no index, but the table of contents is fairly detailed. The somewhat loose structure fits with the sketchbook-like feel of the volume. This series is aimed at adult readers, and some assumed knowledge of terms reflects this, but the attractive and edifying drawings expand the potential audience to younger learners. VERDICT A fact-filled, browsable title with strong visual appeal.--Steven Engelfried, Wilsonville P.L., OR