Review by Booklist Review
Dr. Morely is positive that the giant Arctic jellyfish is more than a myth, so she assembles a team to sail to the frigid north. The bright red research vessel matches the team's hats, boots, and puffy coats, all of which pop against the icy blues and whites of their Arctic surroundings. Over the next several months (and wonderful double-page spreads), Dr. Morley's expedition searches for the elusive jellyfish but never manages to spot it. It, however, spots them, and young readers will get a kick out of all the team's close calls as they peer over the wrong side of an iceberg and float directly on top of the giant Arctic jellyfish's adorably ethereal form. This delightful adventure more than tips its woolly red cap to Wes Anderson's The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, from the detailed cross-sections of the research vessel--individual crew members busy in its many rooms--to its general aesthetic of symmetrical whimsy. Try this with sweet-spirited explorers and young fans of Elisa Sabatinelli's The Secret of the Magic Pearl (2021).
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Whimsical ink and watercolor ship cutaways and sublime icy vistas delight in this fictional picture book about a scientist's perseverance while searching for a mythical giant Arctic jellyfish. Aboard a cherry-colored vessel headed to "the northernmost tip of the world," pale-skinned Dr. Morley's crew--depicted with different skin tones and coordinated cold-weather-wear--chart their path alongside narwhals, mingle with belugas, and observe orcas. There's a lighthearted seek-and-find effect at play as the jellyfish, an evanescent creature with a playful expression, stays just out of sight. Hope diminishes until an abrupt conclusion suggests that the determined explorer has spotted her quarry at last. Savage's pictorial storytelling occurs in precise images of ship routines (the chef bakes a lopsided cake, tired crew queue for the bathroom), figures navigating the travails of expedition life, and changing land and sky. Ages 4--8. (June)
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Review by Horn Book Review
Savage presents a fanciful yet plausibly realistic portrayal of an intrepid group of scientists in search of a creature that "everyone talks about but no one has ever seen: the giant Arctic jellyfish." The jellyfish in question is fictional; however, the documentary-style narration and thoughtful attention to visual details make the exploration feel enticingly real. Exploratory equipment and scientific instruments, along with multiple cutaways of the ship's interior, are consistent and believable throughout Savage's playful ink and watercolor illustrations. The members of the large crew, when unbundled from cold-weather gear, are identifiable by their varying skin tones, hairstyles, and uniquely patterned sweaters. The day-to-day monotony of living on a research vessel (countless tasks and long lines for the bathroom) is offset by moments of natural wonder (a vibrant aurora borealis) and harrowing exploration (encountering a polar bear on an iceberg). A steady flow of double-page spreads depicts scene after Arctic scene from both above and below water, providing readers with glimpses of the elusive giant Arctic jellyfish. Savage's strong command of color, light, and atmosphere shines, allowing the creature's semi-translucent body to both mimic and blend with the frigid environment. This is key, since the giant Arctic jellyfish (depicted with two eyes and expressive body language) remains just out of sight until the story's very end, adding a gentle touch of humor and enhancing this imaginative celebration of curiosity. (c) Copyright 2023. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
Will Dr. Morley ever see the elusive Arctic jellyfish she has pursued for months? In this imagined exploration, Dr. Morley, a determined scientist, leads her crew through icy Arctic waters. They see narwhals, beluga whales, and orca, but where is the giant jellyfish? Savage's ink and watercolor illustrations reveal the secret: The jellyfish has been following them all along. These playful images are the heart of this engaging story. For the most part, the ocean surface runs across the middle of the page so readers can see underwater as well as above. There are cutaway views of the ship showing a diverse crew of sailors and scientists (in matching white-and-red sweaters, heavy red outer clothing, or wetsuits; light-skinned Dr. Morley usually wears green) at work. The details repay careful attention. Savage's precise artwork depicts the crew's preparations, the clothing and equipment, and all the parts of the ship from the bridge and pilot to the compartments below, including an engine room, galley, bunks, and bathrooms. The people are always tiny, dwarfed by the animals. The crew encounters storms, the northern lights, giant shelves of ice, and, once, a polar bear. Most of these images are double-page spreads, varied occasionally by pages of panels that moderate the pace of the storytelling. This voyage may be fictional, but the frustrations--and joys--of scientific exploration are real indeed. (This book was reviewed digitally.) Whimsical and wonderful. (Picture book. 4-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
