Shimmer and Splash: The Sparkling World of Sea Life

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.)