(2) K-3 Illustrated by Bindy James. Two small, inquisitive fish explore a whale fall (a sunken whale carcass that forms its own ecosystem) as if it were a haunted house where marine visitors become scary creatures gliding in and out of the whale bones. On seeing green, willowy tentacles, they ask, “Is it smoke from a witch’s cauldron? Is it the reaching arm of a ghost?” and then realize, “It’s the slime of a snake-like hag-fish!” A factual callout adds, “The slippery hagfish has no bones. Its skeleton consists entirely of rubbery cartilage. It burrows into its food with rows of hidden, razor-sharp teeth.” The two fish similarly encounter an array of sea creatures such as octopuses, a vampire squid, and Osedax worms. We learn through their observations that, over time, the decaying bones completely ­disappear. Slate entices readers and listeners with just the right amount of spookiness while ­presenting facts about whale falls. James’s digital illustrations complement the text, creating a world of creatures with sharp teeth and scary tentacles that’s tempered by a palette of bright colors against deep blue backgrounds. Back matter gives more information about whale falls and the ocean’s midnight zone. An informative introduction to lesser-known facts about whale falls (see also Stewart’s Whale Fall, rev. 1/23, and Brunelle’s Life After Whale, rev. 5/24).

Reviewer: | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2025