THE SECRETS OF THE JELLIES

Inspired by the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s beloved jellyfish exhibits, this read-aloud-friendly picture book skillfully blends poetry and marine biology.

Jameson’s buoyant text—structured as a guessing game—showcases a new fact every two pages. Well pitched to its young audience, the writing builds anticipation through simple rhyming stanzas that culminate in a one-word reveal: “Jellies round, / jellies square, / simply plain or full of flair. / A dazzling mix of shapes and types! / There’s even one with purple / STRIPES!” (Remarkably, the rhyme scheme remains flawless even when incorporating specific terminology such as “Jellies feel / jellies sense— / A nerve net is the evidence.”) Hermansson’s candy-hued digital illustrations complement the verse’s playful tone, offering visual interest that will appeal to varied attention spans. The jellyfish dance across each spread in oranges, yellows, purples, and blues, set against saturated teal and navy backdrops. Plentiful backmatter goes into more detail about concepts introduced in the main text. Keen-eyed readers can use the visual dictionary of species to spot their favorites on each page. The backmatter also points readers to a citizen scientist website where they can get involved in tracking jellies. Meanwhile, illustrated endpapers showcase people of diverse ages, skin tones, hair styles, and abilities as they enjoy a visit to the aquarium.

STEM storytelling done right.