The Deadliest: Sea Creature

by Eleanor Spicer Rice, Max Temescu (illustrator)

Six sea creatures face off against the Death-O-Meter to determine which will be crowned the deadliest of them all.


Meet the deadliest sea creatures on Earth.


Who’s the true danger of the sea? Is it the elegant box jellyfish? The fearsome great white shark? The elusive blue-ringed octopus? Or someone else?


The host of this stiff competition, Dr. Eleanor Spicer Rice, teaches the rules for sea creature interactions (Do not touch! Do not bother!) and introduces the contestants.


This tale of teeth, tentacles, and toxins invites readers into the world of deadly sea where they live, what they eat—and what could happen if you ever come into contact with one. It also encourages readers to appreciate them, showing why they’re important to the places they live—and why we should protect them. With humor, accessible science, and a colorful graphic format by best-selling artist Max Temescu, The Sea Creature shows that even the deadliest things in nature may not be as scary as we think.

Genres: Nonfiction, Childrens

40 pages, Hardcover

Published October 7, 2025

About the author

Eleanor Spicer Rice is an award-winning author with a Ph.D. in entomology. She studied ants and how they shape the natural world. After publishing six books on ants, she now writes books for children about the amazing life with which we spend our days.

​Eleanor is also the senior science editor at Verdant Word, a science communication company she co-founded with Robin Sutton Anders.

Reviews

[Bookaholic__Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's a battle of the biggest, baddest and deadliest sea creatures.....who will come out on top??? Who is the true danger of the deep??


I love books like this and I think a lot of kids will too. It's educational and a bit humorous. I love the way it's presented like a graphic novel, the illustrations are definitely attention grabbing!

This little book teaches who they are, where they live, what they eat and importantly what could happen if you ever came in contact with one.

Sure it's amusing and has some great laughs but it's also educational and teaches a love and respect for sea creatures....even the not so "friendly" ones.

I received a copy in exchange for my honest review.

[Sandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

We hear a lot about sharks and other sea creatures, but who is truly the deadliest? That's what you will find out in this book. Showcasing several sea creatures like the Pufferfish, Stonefish, and Blue-Ringed Octopus, young and old readers will learn about the creature, its habitat, and what makes it a contender for the deadliest title. The book also helps readers learn about ecosystems and vocabulary through fun and colorful illustrations.

Since this book is about judging the deadliest sea creature, it provides detailed scientific explanations on how a person could die if they were in contact, making it not the best choice for very young readers.

Advanced reading copy provided by Norton Young Readers. All opinions are my own.

[Rachel Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Which sea creature is the deadliest?! I was certainly surprised by the results of this game show-style competition! The book features six of the deadliest ocean animals around and goes into detail on exactly how they can kill you. Perfect for fans of the Who Would Win series! (Though I would probably keep this one for upper elementary, due to the whole death thing.)

The information is engaging and accessible. The illustrations were fun and bright. A great buy!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

[Anne Shirley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eleanor Spicer Rice dives deep into ocean danger with humor and flair, introducing young readers to box jellyfish, blue-ringed octopuses, and more in a playful “Death-O-Meter” showdown. Max Temescu’s bold illustrations turn fangs and tentacles into irresistible fun, while the text cleverly shifts fear into fascination—reminding us that even the scariest sea creatures have a vital role to play. A sharp, lively pick for budding marine adventurers.

[Beth Icard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Counting books in my reading challenge that I copyedited or proofread, when they're available here on Goodreads for me to add in a timely manner (several I've worked on already exist and are being repackaged/rereleased by a publisher). It's only fair. It's a damn lot of reading I'm not including otherwise.

What a fun concept and fun book! Eleanor is a joy to work with.