Secrets of the Sea

Baker and Taylor take readers from the ocean’s shallows to its deepest depths as they highlight singular or little-known aquatic creatures. Over five chapters, Baker introduces each species with vibrant details (“The calcified bumps on the sea horse’s skin match the color and shape of the sea fan’s polyps—the perfect camouflage”), accompanied by trivia and biological information. Taylor’s gauzy and dramatic illustrations depict the creatures as if looking at them through a microscope or magnifying glass. A queen parrot fish’s jewel-toned scales become a kind of abstract painting; the ornate skeletons of radiolarians “have inspired scientists, architects, painters, and sculptors.” A dazzlingly illustrated look at creatures unusual and often unseen. Ages 8–12. (Oct.)