I always enjoy books that relate scientific or historical facts in a fun and interesting way, and Wonders of the Ocean Realm by Tricia Goyer and Sherri Seligson, illustrated by Vlad Stankovic, does just that. The authors make science come alive for kids while incorporating a Christian perspective.
Summary
Wonders of the Ocean Realm relates the stories of five unique, lesser-known sea creatures: Astrid, a multicolor sea star; Maximus, a mantis shrimp; Dexter, a mimic octopus; Wendell, a humpback whale; and Luna, a deep-sea anglerfish. The book is split into five sections, one for each creature, and each section contains “Ocean Notion” facts, Bible verses, a “Going Deeper” section with application questions, and ends with a brief takeaway. Each creature has his own story that explains his life in a fun way: readers learn how he hunts, what he eats, where he lives, how his mother cares for him, what dangers exist for him, how/if he travels, and the unique abilities God has given him to protect himself from predators. Finally, Wonders of the Ocean Realm ends with a helpful glossary that readers can refer to.
Review
I love how the authors give each sea creature a name and a story; this really makes the creatures come to life. The stories are well-written and engaging, and they make learning about the sea creatures interesting. Each creature is a character in its own story, with conflict and suspense. Will the creature get eaten by a predator, or taken from its home by humans?
“While the sea is a place of wonder, it also holds many secrets and challenges. Everything looks peaceful, but is it? Only the ocean knows for sure.” (42)
This format also helps readers understand complex facts. For example, by seeing the predators that surround Dexter the mimic octopus from his point of view, readers understand why and how he changes himself to “mimic” these other creatures better than if the authors had just given a scientific explanation.
The illustrations are beautiful and engaging. I loved getting to see what the characters look like. Kids will love looking at the images and following them alongside the story.
God’s perfect design in creation is a theme that resonates throughout the book. I also love how the authors connect each animal directly with the application questions. Readers aren’t just learning random facts: they’re learning more about God’s infinite greatness and power as well as lessons they can apply to their daily lives.
I had not heard of several of the creatures in Wonders of the Ocean Realm, and I learned a lot! The mimic octopus is my favorite. Learning about him really made me pause and reflect on the wonders of God’s creation.
“Seeing animals like sea stars with complex abilities suggests a brilliant and powerful Creator designed them. They were purposely made to thrive in their ocean home. Complexity always makes us understand that a Creator was at work. This Creator made everything, including us, with great plans in mind.” (26)
I recommend Wonders of the Ocean Realm to both girls and boys ages 8 and up and think that both Christians and unbelievers can learn a lot about science and our Creator from it.
In Case You Missed It...
Check out Sue Irwin’s interview with author Sherri Seligson here.
Kathryn Dover enjoys writing short stories and has been blogging for Write2Ignite since 2019. She graduated as valedictorian from Presbyterian College with a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics while also minoring in history and creative writing. In addition, she served on the school’s newspaper staff for two years, completing over a dozen articles and photo essays. In her free time, she enjoys reading, photography, playing with her pets, and growing houseplants. You can connect with her on LinkedIn.
Great review, Kathryn. Thanks for letting us know about this intriguing book. I think my grands would love it.