(1) K-3 Illustrated by Jessica Lanan. Free divers, or those who dive in the ocean without any breathing equipment, claim that being unencumbered lets them immerse themselves in the underwater world, which allows for a strong connection to nature. Such is the case in this moving account when a free diver (based on Fred Buyle’s recorded experience, accompanied by another diver, Kurt Amsler) finds himself in the midst of a pod of sperm whales. They are apparently gathering for the birth of a calf, an event never before known to have been witnessed in this environment by a human. Without a hint of anthropomorphism, the connections depicted between animals -- man and whale -- are both scientific (each must ascend to the surface to breathe) and suppositional (the birth is celebrated by the community). In each case, Cusolito clearly delineates between fact and speculation. Lanan’s watercolor and ink illustrations bring readers into this majestic, alien environment, mirroring the diver’s belief that the whales are welcoming him to this special event. When the calf is stable, the mother appears to nudge him toward the diver; man and whales swim together, their movements perfectly synchronized. The whales descend; the man ascends, “forever changed.” Back matter offers a detailed diagram of a sperm whale, information about freediving and about whales, and print and digital resources for further inquiry. In addition, readers will find a selected bibliography and personal notes from author and illustrator.

Reviewer: Betty Carter | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2025

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Ellen Rooney. Maude Delap (1866–1953) lacked a formal education, but that didn't stop her from pursuing a life of science. From her island home off Ireland's coast, Delap conducted pioneering research into the jellyfish life cycle, raising the creatures in captivity and observing them carefully as they grew. Cusolito sets her story from June 1899 to September 1900. The passage of time is marked by dated entries, but the text is written in the present tense with frequent use of direct address, plunging readers into both the immediacy of science and its painstaking nature. In Rooney's illustrations, Delap usually wears a smile—it's obvious she's delighted with her experiment—and is frequently accompanied by a young relative, providing a character for readers to identify with. White-on-blue close-ups of the growing jellyfish reveal a complicated, many-phased metamorphosis, their emerging tentacles and frills visually echoed in the curves of the display type. Scientific vocabulary (planulae, polyp, ephyra) is introduced and defined gracefully in context. While a closing biographical note emphasizes both the misogyny that marginalized Delap and the importance of the research she conducted within its constraints, the primary narrative emphasizes the joy of science for science's sake. Further information about jellyfish, author and illustrator notes, and a handful of additional resources fill out the back matter.

Reviewer: Vicky Smith | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2025

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Nicole Wong. In a follow-up to the pair's Flying Deep (rev. 7/18), Cusolito and Wong enumerate the various ways people explore the ocean. Readers learn about the methods (e.g., snorkel, free dive, scuba) and machines (deep-sea submersibles, underwater research lab materials) humans utilize to conquer the challenges of underwater observation (these being extreme pressure and the need for breathable air). The clear expository prose of the main text is accompanied by detailed sidebars that provide extensive descriptions and facts. Double-page spreads allow Wong's digital art to set the explorers, equipment, and sea life in various ocean habitats. Cusolito centers humanity's sense of wonder and desire to learn more, focusing on the "diving we do to expand scientific knowledge, research, and communication." Extensive back matter includes a helpful (though not-to-scale) spread incorporating all the diving methods and machines found throughout the book, shown in various ocean depths. A glossary, author's note, and list of resources are also included. Curious readers will dive right in.

Reviewer: Eric Carpenter | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2022

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Nicole Wong. "You" are the pilot of Alvin, the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution's deep-sea submersible first launched in 1965. A clear text evokes the nearly two-mile journey to the ocean floor; readers are introduced to Alvin's tasks and the nature of the deep-sea biome. Digital illustrations are both exact in their depiction of Alvin's wondrous mechanics and evocative in their survey of seemingly otherworldly deep-sea life. Reading list, websites. Glos.

Reviewer: Roger Sutton | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2018