A journey under the sea

"Dive into the clear, cold water and you will find yourself in a forest of liquid light. You can relax and explore--the sea holds you safe in a salty embrace." In a photographic picture book, Foster and Frylinck, cofounders of the Sea Change Project and creators of the documentary My Octopus Teacher, invite readers on a mesmerizing guided tour of the Great African Sea Forest--a kelp forest at the tip of South Africa. While inviting language makes the read feel interactive, light-infused, full-bleed photographic close-ups introduce creatures found within the ecosystem: a wide-eyed seal pup ("Come on, the pup seems to say, swim deeper"), a small rockfish ("you can play a game of hide-and-seek"), and camouflaged octopuses, among others. A visual gem, this underwater jaunt concludes with a dreamlike wish: "Remember the wild, hold it safe in your heart." Captioned thumbnails of each spread offer facts about the featured fauna and their home. An author's note concludes. Ages 4--8. (Oct.)

K-Gr 3--From Foster, creator of the award-winning documentary My Octopus Teacher, and Frylinck, his dive partner, this is a beautiful close-up look at the world beneath the sea. Stunning underwater photographs allow readers to experience the wonder of sea creatures that few will see firsthand. The work reveals hidden treasures such as a view of a pyjama shark's eye that looks like "an alien galaxy blazing in the deepest reaches of space." The narrative is designed as a personal journey into the sea with poetic descriptions ("you will find yourself in a forest of liquid light" and an octopus "waves her arms and shimmers and twinkles her skin"). Back matter describes the environment and creatures from each page and reveal fascinating facts. VERDICT Far more than an informational nature book, this is a powerful expression of love and respect for the ocean and the magnificent creatures that live in its waters. Highly recommended.--Heidi Dechief

Explore the ecosystem of the Great African Seaforest. Foster and Frylinck, founders of the Sea Change Project and part of the team that produced the Netflix film My Octopus Teacher, use some of their amazing underwater photographs to introduce a kelp forest ecosystem located off the coast of South Africa, a rich, biodiverse ocean world. In a gentle, leisurely tone, they invite readers to "dive into the clear, cold water…relax and explore." The relatively simple text sits directly on the striking images. The first two spreads show the ocean from above, flying over the South African coast and then closing in above a swimmer. Under the water is an abundance of "curious creatures," colorful fish, a seal pup, a tiny rockfish, and an octopus hiding behind shells and stones. Spread by spread, we meet more creatures until, finally, we see departing dolphins. The photographs are colorful and unusual, from distant views to astonishing close-ups; a look at a pyjama shark's eye is especially compelling. The five final pages feature smaller versions of the images found within the book, with further identification and information. This is a delight on its own but would also pair well with Susannah Burhman-Deever's If You Take Away the Otter (2020), illustrated by Matthew Trueman, or Nicholas Read's The Seal Garden (2018), with photographs by Ian McAllister, both set in the kelp forests off North America's West Coast. (This book was reviewed digitally.) Dive in! (Informational picture book. 4-7) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.