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Beneath the Waves
Take a journey through the oceans of the world in this beautiful book, made entirely from hand-pressed plants.
Artist Helen Ahpornsiri transforms silky seaweeds, feathery algae and bright coastal blooms into playful penguins, scuttling crabs and schools of silvery sharks. Turn the page to explore each corner of the oceans, from hidden rock pools to the darkest depths. Marvel as plants transform into marvellous creatures, and discover the magic and beauty that lies beneath the waves . . .
Artist Helen Ahpornsiri transforms silky seaweeds, feathery algae and bright coastal blooms into playful penguins, scuttling crabs and schools of silvery sharks. Turn the page to explore each corner of the oceans, from hidden rock pools to the darkest depths. Marvel as plants transform into marvellous creatures, and discover the magic and beauty that lies beneath the waves . . .
Paperback
Published August 6, 2020
2 people are currently reading
50 people want to read
About the author
Helen Ahpornsiri
8 books11 followersHelen Ahpornsiri creates intricate collages using real flowers and foliage, which are foraged or grown, then preserved with traditional flower-pressing methods. The plants are organized by species or color before being cut and delicately arranged to form birds, insects, and other creatures, all filled with tiny patterns and tangles of plant life.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
February 20, 2021
I didn’t think the awe I felt when I first saw Helen Ahpornsiri’s A Year in the Wild could be replicated. I was wrong. Beneath the Waves has had the same effect on me.
Helen took me on a journey through the seasons in A Year in the Wild, using petals and leaves to create the most adorable array of animals. My favourite image from that book remains the owl.
In Beneath the Waves, Helen uses seaweed, coastal flowers and garden plants to explore the coast, open ocean, tropics and polar waters. I loved the entire book but did have a few favourites:
* The baby turtles, each of which have a different expression and unique shell design.
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* The contrast of the polar bear against the black background enables the details to stand out more. There’s a black background behind the angler fish as well and it’s absolutely stunning.
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* The blue whale. Not only was this image so detailed, my favourite fact of the book accompanied it. Their “tongues alone weigh as much as an adult elephant!” How’s that for perspective?!
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If you can’t believe an artist could possibly transform pressed plants into such realistic animals, I’d encourage you to watch Helen at work on YouTube.
I can’t wait to see what she comes up with next.
Thank you so much to Allen & Unwin for the opportunity to read this book.
Blog - https://schizanthusnerd.com
Helen took me on a journey through the seasons in A Year in the Wild, using petals and leaves to create the most adorable array of animals. My favourite image from that book remains the owl.
In Beneath the Waves, Helen uses seaweed, coastal flowers and garden plants to explore the coast, open ocean, tropics and polar waters. I loved the entire book but did have a few favourites:
* The baby turtles, each of which have a different expression and unique shell design.
[image error]
* The contrast of the polar bear against the black background enables the details to stand out more. There’s a black background behind the angler fish as well and it’s absolutely stunning.
[image error]
* The blue whale. Not only was this image so detailed, my favourite fact of the book accompanied it. Their “tongues alone weigh as much as an adult elephant!” How’s that for perspective?!
[image error]
If you can’t believe an artist could possibly transform pressed plants into such realistic animals, I’d encourage you to watch Helen at work on YouTube.
I can’t wait to see what she comes up with next.
Thank you so much to Allen & Unwin for the opportunity to read this book.
Blog - https://schizanthusnerd.com
August 12, 2019
Learn about creatures that live along the coast, in tide pools, near the shore, and in the deep ocean.
There are lots of books on ocean life out there. This distinguishes itself because of Helen Ahpornsiri's amazing, beautiful, unforgettable artwork. She uses all natural materials to make collages that become the ocean life featured. Seaweed becomes lines and anemones, coastal flowers make patterns on fish and birds, and your eyes will not want to stop looking at this beautiful book. The text is informative and very engaging too, aimed at about the middle grade level. (And I even learned a couple things I'd never heard before.) But any age reader will enjoy the feast this is for the eyes. Do yourself a favor and go find every single book illustrated by Helen Ahpornsiri you can get your hands on. You'll be glad you did. Highly recommended for the artwork, but also great for curious readers and those who want to learn more about ocean life.
There are lots of books on ocean life out there. This distinguishes itself because of Helen Ahpornsiri's amazing, beautiful, unforgettable artwork. She uses all natural materials to make collages that become the ocean life featured. Seaweed becomes lines and anemones, coastal flowers make patterns on fish and birds, and your eyes will not want to stop looking at this beautiful book. The text is informative and very engaging too, aimed at about the middle grade level. (And I even learned a couple things I'd never heard before.) But any age reader will enjoy the feast this is for the eyes. Do yourself a favor and go find every single book illustrated by Helen Ahpornsiri you can get your hands on. You'll be glad you did. Highly recommended for the artwork, but also great for curious readers and those who want to learn more about ocean life.
June 23, 2022
Stunningly beautiful illustrations of sea life accompanied by interesting bits and pieces of information. I would have liked more value and consistency from the text - extension of habitat, evolutionary adaptations, life cycles, symbiotic relationships etc. I’m not sure of the target audience as the information was quite basic but some of the vocabulary was complex and then the glossary at the end was very simplistic.
While the artwork is inspirational and utterly fascinating, a more organised, scientific approach to the text could make this book truly useful in a high school library.
While the artwork is inspirational and utterly fascinating, a more organised, scientific approach to the text could make this book truly useful in a high school library.
October 15, 2021
The artwork made entirely from hand-pressed sea plants is stunning. The book explores a different ocean world. From the coast, tropics, polar waters, and open ocean this title makes for a beautiful mix of nonfiction storytelling about the ocean world. Within each chapter is a small paragraph or two about a creature or feature from the subject of the chapter. The book is not meant as a research tool but rather as a way to spark curiosity about particular ocean features or wildlife.
August 12, 2021
Absolutely stunning and unusual art by Helen Ahpornsivi. However, the pairing of the whimsical art with the nature book descriptions of animals didn't work well for me. When considering a resource to explore and help kids identify and connect with flora and fauna, I prefer the traditional guide book illustrations.
I would love to see Ahpornsivi's work with a more whimsical story.
I would love to see Ahpornsivi's work with a more whimsical story.
August 15, 2019
Another gorgeous installation of Ahpornsiri's work. In this one, sea animals are featured, and all of the art is made with sea and coastal plants from the Southern coast of England. Loving the beautiful art mixed with middle grade nonfiction. Also that the artist is THAI!
January 26, 2020
This is the second book I own of this author. And I'm once again in awe of the beauty of her art. I love the seaweed and other plants and flowers used to make the art and the colours and composition is just stunning.
May 11, 2020
A beautifully illustrated introduction to creatures inhabiting coastal, polar, tropical, and open ocean waters. The stunning art by Helen Ahpornsiri is crafted from pressed seaweed, coastal flowers, and garden plants.
January 27, 2023
I adore this book, such gorgeous illustrations! Not watercolour as I thought, but made out if seaweed and flowers, amazing! The text is cute and informative for kids and adults alike. Now is time to put my device down and get my paints out! Highly recommend this book for creative inspiration.
April 18, 2019
4.5 stars. Really lovely produced book and some fascinating facts.
April 22, 2019
Gorgeous artwork!
September 18, 2021
illustrated by Helen Ahpornsiri, who also illustrated Drawn from Nature....
June 2, 2023
Absolutely gorgeous illustrations. As soon as I saw this I needed to buy it just for the tattoo inspo itself.
Very good introduction to marine life and different organisms for kids.
Very good introduction to marine life and different organisms for kids.
May 23, 2024
Illustrations amazing plus fun facts
May 24, 2024
A great collection of animal facts. It was separated into sections and gave a good variety of ocean creatures.
June 10, 2023
First published in USA in 2020and previously in 2019 in England this is a beautiful almost coffee table book with appeal to adults about various creatures under the sea. Divided into four sections, the coast, the tropics, open ocean, and polar waters featuring examples of marine life from the correct area. I think the adult appeal will be the art method used for the sea creatures, all are made from seaweed and flowers, a very unique form of illustration.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews