THE SEARCH FOR THE GIANT ARCTIC JELLYFISH

Will Dr. Morley ever see the elusive Arctic jellyfish she has pursued for months?

In this imagined exploration, Dr. Morley, a determined scientist, leads her crew through icy Arctic waters. They see narwhals, beluga whales, and orca, but where is the giant jellyfish? Savage’s ink and watercolor illustrations reveal the secret: The jellyfish has been following them all along. These playful images are the heart of this engaging story. For the most part, the ocean surface runs across the middle of the page so readers can see underwater as well as above. There are cutaway views of the ship showing a diverse crew of sailors and scientists (in matching white-and-red sweaters, heavy red outer clothing, or wetsuits; light-skinned Dr. Morley usually wears green) at work. The details repay careful attention. Savage’s precise artwork depicts the crew’s preparations, the clothing and equipment, and all the parts of the ship from the bridge and pilot to the compartments below, including an engine room, galley, bunks, and bathrooms. The people are always tiny, dwarfed by the animals. The crew encounters storms, the northern lights, giant shelves of ice, and, once, a polar bear. Most of these images are double-page spreads, varied occasionally by pages of panels that moderate the pace of the storytelling. This voyage may be fictional, but the frustrations—and joys—of scientific exploration are real indeed. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

Whimsical and wonderful.