THE SECRET WORLD OF SEAHORSES

Dive in and meet one of the ocean’s most elusive and peculiar fish.

Davies’ text covers the basics—how seahorses camouflage themselves, snap up their food with surprising speed, and engage in elaborate mating dances that result in the males carrying the eggs. The author offers a conservation message as well, citing pollution, habitat destruction, and climate change alongside efforts in Malaysia, Cambodia, and England to protect these creatures. The information is well presented, never too heavy or overwhelming for the intended audience. Baker-Smith’s mixed-media artwork carries much of the book’s appeal. Layered watercolors and collage create convincing watery depths, with seahorses rendered in warm oranges, pinks, and yellows that stand out against cooler blue-green backgrounds—a noteworthy compositional choice that helps these masters of camouflage register visually. The textured quality of coral reefs and seagrass meadows adds dimensionality. The mating dance sequence works particularly well, with flowing arrangements that suggest movement. Also included is a scene showing tan-skinned, featureless humans processing dried seahorses to use in teas, tonics, and keychains. The final spread of dispersing baby seahorses uses scale effectively to convey both fragility and possibility. Davies ends with backmatter on climate change and what people can do to help seahorses.

A solid introduction to marine biology elevated by visuals that evoke an underwater world.