A Journey Under the Sea

“Dive into the clear, cold water and you will find yourself in a forest of liquid light. You can relax and explore—the sea holds you safe in a salty embrace.” In a photographic picture book, Foster and Frylinck, cofounders of the Sea Change Project and creators of the documentary My Octopus Teacher, invite readers on a mesmerizing guided tour of the Great African Sea Forest—a kelp forest at the tip of South Africa. While inviting language makes the read feel interactive, light-infused, full-bleed photographic close-ups introduce creatures found within the ecosystem: a wide-eyed seal pup (“Come on, the pup seems to say, swim deeper”), a small rockfish (“you can play a game of hide-and-seek”), and camouflaged octopuses, among others. A visual gem, this underwater jaunt concludes with a dreamlike wish: “Remember the wild, hold it safe in your heart.” Captioned thumbnails of each spread offer facts about the featured fauna and their home. An author’s note concludes. Ages 4–8. (Oct.)