SEAHORSES

A lovely, gentle examination of this most charming and fascinating of sea creatures.

Written in clear, straightforward yet poetic prose, this small book conveys basic information in an awestruck tone befitting this ethereal animal. Wallace’s softly colored and delicately textured, digitally created artwork beautifully captures the seahorse’s graceful, lyrical movements and lush habitat. Close-ups bring out its remarkable appearance. Most delightful are the scenes with a mated pair, their tails coiled. One senses that perhaps only such otherworldly creatures could form a perfect heart while in each other’s embrace. Young readers will be captivated to learn that seahorses, like chameleons, change color to match their environment and that males carry their mate’s eggs and, amazingly, give birth to live young. The author has not provided a bibliography, though many books about seahorses have been written for young readers. She includes a list of websites for further inquiry and inspiration.

A very handsome, fundamental introduction to a fish that captures the attention, imagination and heart.