An Anthology of Aquatic Life

by Sam Hume

From the deepest, widest ocean to the tiniest puddle, this beautiful compendium takes young readers on an enthralling journey through the aquatic world, meeting amazing animals, ingenious plants, and much more along the way. Stunning photography and gorgeous illustrations complement storybook descriptions about each lifeform, and children can uncover hundreds of fascinating facts as they read. Did you know that elephant seals that can hold their breath underwater for more than an hour, or that the Victoria Amazonica water lily can support the weight of an adult, or that the brown basilisk reptile can run across water?

Discover the science of how plants have learnt to live, feed, and breathe in water, and take a look at the unique challenges of distinct ecosystems on feature spreads about rivers, lakes, wetlands, and more. From sharks and sailfish, to bulrushes and beetles, there's something for everyone in this celebration of all things aquatic.

Genres: Nonfiction, Animals, Childrens, Nature, Science, Picture Books, Education

224 pages, Hardcover

Published September 29, 2022

Reviews

[Avada Kaddavra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unser Sohn (7) ist total verrückt nach dieser Reihe. Wir lesen vor allem in diesem Band und er kennt inzwischen alle Tiere😄
Jedes Tier bekommt hier eine Doppelseite mit großem Bild und kurzem Text. Ich hätte mir hin und wieder mehr Infos oder eine einfachere Beschreibung gewünscht, aber auch so klappt das Lesen zusammen sehr gut. Aktuell hat diese Reihe sogar die klassische Gute-Nacht-Geschichte abgelöst😃

[madame Gabrielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

anthologie incroyablement belle et pertinente et complète! vraiment, à avoir dans sa bibliothèque de classe, à offrir en cadeau à un jeune passionné du monde aquatique ou à offrir à un.e enseignant.e pour sa classe, mais à avoir simplement tellement c’est un beau bijou d’ouvrage 🙌🏻

[Brianna Bratrud · Rating 4 out of 5]

Our family has really enjoyed pouring over this book. I’d probably want to own this and any other books like it with the same format. Not certain off the top of my head, but I think this covers mostly common aquatic creatures in salt and fresh water all over the world, not just weird and unique ones. It is from an old-earth/evolutionary model of science (they have pages on extinct and prehistoric animals), but that doesn’t come into the descriptions of the rest of the animals.

[Nate Hipple · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one beautifully put together book. The graphic design on it is next level and it features high quality pages and hardcovers. And it’s cheaper than most hardcovers, almost all of which are not produced at nearly this level. It’s a hell of a deal if for nothing else than to flip through from time to time. The content inside is also excellent, but emphasizes breadth more than depth. It also can feel a bit samey to read in chunks, so I definitely recommend the read an entry or two every day or so approach.

[Emily Sparks · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an aesthetically beautiful book, and full of interesting nature facts. This is a great series for read-alouds. My 7 year old loved it!

[James]

Dive into the wondrous world of water and discover the stories of more than 100 incredible aquatic lifeforms. The underwater world is so much bigger than young minds can fathom and there is always more to learn. An Anthology of Aquatic Life is a stunning ocean encyclopedia for young readers to explore, with reference pages packed with fascinating information, little learners will be captivated as they discover the facts, stories and myths behind their favourite sea-life animals. From the deepest, widest ocean to the tiniest puddle, this beautiful compendium takes young readers on an enthralling journey through the aquatic world, meeting amazing animals, ingenious plants, and much more along the way. Stunning photography and gorgeous illustrations complement storybook descriptions about each lifeform, and children can uncover hundreds of fascinating facts as they read. Did you know that elephant seals can hold their breath underwater for more than an hour, or that the brown basilisk reptile can run across water? Discover the science of how plants have learnt to live, feed, and breathe in water, and take a look at the unique challenges of distinct ecosystems on feature spreads about rivers, lakes, wetlands, and more. Celebrate your child's curiosity as they: - Explore detailed photographs and striking illustrations of nature in action - Reveal fun facts and myths about how a range of animals and plants adapt to their environments - Uncover more than 100 aquatic lifeforms, each with stunning images and captivating information. This ocean encyclopedia for children is the perfect blend of storybook style text with out of this world illustrations which makes it a fantastic sea life book for children who are obsessed with the underwater world. Encourage young readers to go on a journey to explore a world of information, making this the ideal first reference book for kids aged 7-9 to enjoy for hours on end, whether reading with the family or reading alone, this fun fact book also doubles up as the perfect gift for curious kids who love to learn. Explore the diversity of the animal kingdom whilst uncovering: -Stunning Jacket Detail: gold foil, holographic foil & metallic gold edges -Stunning photography & illustrations inside -A beautiful book for the whole family to treasure -A quality gift to be passed down through the generations More in the Series Anthology of Aquatic Animals is part of the beautiful and informative Anthology series. Complete the series and nurture your child's curiosity as they explore the natural world with The Wonders of Nature or let them walk with the dinosaurs who ruled the earth before them in Dinosaurs and other Prehistoric Life.

[Luka · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ich finde, das Buch gehört überarbeitet ...
Allzu wissenswert kommt es mir nicht vor, aber ich weiß durch diverse Dokus und Museumsbesuche auch schon das ein oder andere über Tiere im Wasser.
Dennoch kamen mir immer wieder Fragen auf. Einfache Fragen, tatsächlich, wo ich mir vorstelle, dass Kinder diese Fragen ebenfalls stellen würden.
Und nicht jedes Elternteil kann diese Fragen sofort beantworten. Ergo: das (gemeinsame) Leseerlebnis wird durch Recherchepausen am Handy unterbrochen.
Oder auch durch vorblättern zum Glossar ...

Ich würde es so viel besser wissen, wenn die Steckbriefe direkt auf den Seiten der entsprechenden Tiere und Pflanzen wären.
Am besten noch mit Größenvergleichen zum Menschen (in dem Fall auch mit dem "Durchschnittskind")
Als Kind fand ich visuelle Vergleiche nämlich immer super spannend und hilfreich (heute auch noch)
An mancher Stelle könnte man den Platz der großen Seiten nutzen, um Originalgrößen kleiner Lebewesen oder zum Beispiel von Haizähnen zu zeigen.

[Liz H · Rating 5 out of 5]

An Anthology of Aquatic Life is a beautifully crafted celebration of the remarkable plants, animals, and ecosystems that thrive in aquatic environments across the globe.

Sam Hume combines engaging storytelling, fascinating scientific facts, stunning photography, and gorgeous illustrations to create an immersive reading experience that inspires curiosity and learning. The book successfully introduces readers to a wide range of aquatic habitats while highlighting the incredible adaptations that allow life to flourish in water. Both educational and visually captivating, it makes complex natural science concepts accessible to young readers.

Overall, it’s a valuable read for children, parents, educators, librarians, homeschooling families, nature enthusiasts, wildlife lovers, environmental educators, and anyone interested in aquatic ecosystems, biodiversity, science, conservation, and the wonders of the natural world.

[Gael · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW! This book is amazing! Great for all ages. Every page spread is dedicated to just one animal or plant (well, there are a few pages throughout that are dedicated to a specific area, filled with a collection of species), with great photos and artwork. The info about each life form is simple enough for someone younger to understand, but fascinating enough for any adult! It did not feel like a super simple kids book but it also didn’t feel like a jam-packed, overwhelming, text book (And anything I did wish they gave more info about, I just turned to the internet 😜).

All forms of life are so crazy and fascinating to me, but especially the ones that survive in water. I’d say they are all so alien, but I guess by the very definition of alien, they aren’t at all. 🤣

[londra ☻ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars! 🦈🦞🐬🦦🐚

well that was a very fun read!! of course the cover art instantly pulled me in. the illustrations are beautiful, information is digestible, and I learned a lot.

Some that stood out to me:
• elephant seal males compete for females & the winner is the "beachmaster" who can mate with up to 1,000 females.
• flying squid can propel themselves up to 30ft through the air.
• whales can't swallow anything bigger than a grapefruit.
• immortal jellyfish can yo-yo back and forth to age backwards/forwards as many times as it wants as long as it avoids disease/getting eaten.
• once dugong male win their female, they mate for life which can be up to 70 years.

I loved it. 🐡

[A B · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautifully illustrated book with clear, interesting information about the many wonderful, beautiful, and downright terrifying creatures that live in water - oceans, rivers, lakes, etc. Mammals, reptiles, fish, even plants.

I had no idea the sunfish was so adorably dopey looking.

I always thought snails were cute and harmless, but the cone snail is terrifying.

Did you know that the Amazon river dolphin's charming pink color is not natural, but rather a result of abrasion? Like scrubbing too hard with a loofah.

There are so many more. This would be a great book to add to a child's library, or for anyone with an interest in wildlife. Highly recommended.

[The Book Squirrel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is over 200 pages of gorgeous illustrations - including photographs - and snippets of information for ages 8+ (I'd say it would hold interest for ages 8-12/13). It covers all type of aquatic life, from deep-sea creatures to frogs and bullrushes on the banks of a pond.

It's the kind of book which would be a must on public and school library shelves and for the home library of science-lovers. Ideal for children to dip in and out of.

[LILIYA · Rating 5 out of 5]

The pictures are incredible! The images are both photographs and artwork. I learned about many new animals such as cookie cutter shark, vampire squirrel, eastern skunk cabbage and olm. The book is beautifully designed and arranged. The visual guide in the back is a helpful summary of all the animals in the book, which includes its name, group, length and location. (Although knowing its average weight would be interesting too.)

[Anna Harbin · Rating 5 out of 5]

These DK anthology editions are the perfect way to explore the wonders of nature with children. Each page or double page spread briefly describes various and differing facts about different plants and animals in easy to read out loud paragraphs with gorgeous photos and illustrations that keep kids interested while they learn!
I will be reading more of these to my three kids. Despite being between two and nine they all found this book interesting!

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful anthology! I read this aloud a page at a time every Friday morning for a reading “tea party” over a long period of time to my daughter. Great quality, has a nice ribbon bookmark and gilt edges that make this series feel very special. The content is informative in a non overwhelming way and the illustrations are terrific.

[Caleigh MacDonald · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. It’s beautifully illustrated and has remarkably lovely photos. It’s obviously just a surface-level overview of each featured organism but it doesn’t really claim to be anything else. It’s a wonderful look at the many remarkable ways that life exists in and around water.

[Sophie Crane · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really cool book all about animals and creatures that live in water. There's just the right amount of pictures and writing to keep me interested. I would really recommend this book to children who love nature like I do.

[Nerine Richter · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always love DK books. Even though this was written for younger audiences, I, as a 21 year old, still found this book intriguing. The images were beautiful, and the writing was stunning. Highly recommended these books.

[Lorie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful book. They are called sea stars not starfish.

[Franchesca Roskell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful illustrations, my little sister enjoyed reading along too xx

[T.A. Par · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy and fun read.

[Annika · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wunderbar 🐟

[Sherri Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved that the book concentrated on new and exotic species instead of the usual popular ones! The artwork was very cool! Kids are going to love it. I'll have to get the rest of the set!

[Taina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it! The illustrations and the photographs are amazing and detailed and the fact that Im actually able to recall information that I’ve read really says something! Amazing and informative!

[PottWab Regional Library]

SM

[Nathan Forester · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a colorful and wonderful book about fish and other aquatic creatures.

[Danika Y · Rating 4 out of 5]

Titus ate this up. Great introduction and fun facts about God's aquatic creatures!

[Valeria Pelayo Guerrero · Rating 5 out of 5]

bro you’re telling me fishing cats and olms existed this entire time and nobody told me????

[Mia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great facts and pictures.

[Sabine Ibing · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eintauchen in die Welt des Wassers mit fantastischen Großaufnahmen! Ob zarte Quallen, Wasserfloh, Plankton die goldig schimmernden Hautschuppen der Anakonda in Nahaufnahme, Taumelkäfer, Stinktierkohl – den gefräßigen Wasserschlauch in Mikroaufnahme – oder riesige Wale… Dieses stimmungsvolle Naturbuch zeigt über 100 faszinierende Tiere und Pflanzen aus Ozeanen, Flüssen und Seen. Beeindruckende Fotografien, mit spannenden Texte entführen in den Lebensraum Wasser. Wer diese Serie kennt, weiß, wie süchtig sie machen kann – also auf zum Book-Dealer. Spaß beiseite, jedes dieser Bänder ist in seiner Aufmachung großartig gelungen. Hier beeindrucken die Fotos, insbesondere, wenn sie in den Nah- oder Mikrobereich gehen.

Natürlich sind die Tere nach Besonderheiten ausgewählt. Lungenfische können bis zu drei Jahre ohne Nahrung auskommen. Kennst du die Rippenqualle oder den fleischfressenden Schwamm, den Dumbooktopus, den Vielborster oder den Zombiewurm, genannt auch Knochenfresser; oder vielleicht die Schuppenfußschnecke (grandiose Aufnahme!), deren Haus und Schuppen aus Eisen bestehen, was sie magnetisch macht. Nichts davon bekannt? Mir vorher auch nicht. Aber so viel nur zu den ersten Seiten … Das Kindersachbuch beginnt mit dem Lebensraum Tiefsee, geht über zu Flachmeeren, Feuchtgebieten, zum Schluss zu Flüssen, Seen und Teichen.

Die visuelle Gestaltung mit Makroaufnahmen ist beeindruckend! Die Illustrationen und Fotos zeigen die Vielfalt des Lebensraums Wasser für Tiere und Pflanzen – von der Tiefsee über Tangwälder bis hin zu Sümpfen und Teichen. Fische, und andere Meerestiere, Säuger, Vögel, Lurche, Reptilien, Schalentiere, Insekten und einige interessante Pflanzen lernen wir hier kennen. Die Nahaufnahmen vom Neunauge ist genial: die Vorlage für einen fiesen Alien. Tschack, hängt er an deiner Fensterscheibe ...uahhhh. Was einem so einfällt beim Betrachten der Fotos … Das Tierchen ist harmlos, ein urzeitlicher Fisch, der eigentlich nichts mit einem Fisch zu tun hat. Die Texte sind kurz, verständlich und einfach gestaltet für den Grundschulbereich, die Buchstaben sind groß gehalten, so dass Leseanfänger prima klar kommen. Am Ende gibt es ein Glossar für Fachbegriffe und Kurzsteckbriefe zu den Tieren. Was mir allerdings fehlt, ist ein Schlagwortverzeichnis. Man hätte die Kurzsteckbriefe nehmen können, wenn sie von A-Z geordnet wären – hier leider nach Seitenzahlen. Was mir gefällt, dass hier viele Lebewesen vorgestellt werden, die nicht so geläufig sind. Man lernt zur Vielfalt der Erde immer wieder etwas dazu. Das Sachbilderbuch ist mit Lesebändchen, Goldschnitt und Goldfolie auf dem Cover ausgestattet, ein prima Geschenkformat. Eignet sich bestens zum Vorlesen und Schmökern für Tierliebhaber:innen. Der Dorling Kindersley Verlag, gibt eine Altersempfehlung ab 7 Jahren. Ich sage Allage – Familienband. Empfehlung, Abteilung Lieblingsbuch!


Daniel Long lebt als Illustrator in Norfolk (UK). Sein Schaffen ist inspiriert von der Natur, aber auch geprägt von der Ästhetik der 1950er-Jahre. Er arbeitet mit intensiven Farben und Strukturen. In Deutschland hat er bereits mehrere Kinderbücher, u.a. bei Knesebeck und cbj veröffentlicht. Für DK hat er zudem die Wundervolle Welt-Reihe illustriert.