Book Description
for The Search for the Giant Arctic Jellyfish by Chloe Savage
From Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC)
No one has ever set eyes on the giant Arctic jellyfish, but after extensive research, Dr. Morley (white) is determined to be the first. She and her worthy crew (racially diverse) embark for the icy waters of the Arctic Circle, hopeful and prepared. They don scuba gear and dive. They drill into the ice. They “collect important measurements and scientific samples.” They marvel at the Northern Lights and are charmed by the wildlife—beluga whales, orcas, narwhals—but the giant Arctic jellyfish remains elusive. The crew’s faith in Dr. Morley buoys them as they continue to explore the brutally cold ice shelf, but stalwart as they are, their determination flags after months without success. A question creeps into their minds: “Is the giant Arctic jellyfish really just a myth after all?” The brilliance of this picture book lies in the ink and watercolor illustrations, which provide a counterpoint to the narrative: Billowing translucent pink and wide eyed, directly beneath the ship or among the craggy ice, the giant Arctic jellyfish shyly lurks. Young readers will delight in searching for the jellyfish on the page, finding success where the hard-working but oblivious crew does not, until finally a tentacle breaks the surface to wave. “Wait. Could that be …?” (Ages 3-8)
CCBC Choices 2024. © Cooperative Children's Book Center, Univ. of Wisconsin - Madison, 2024. Used with permission.