★ 2022-10-27
Seaweed’s impressive mysteries and surprising potential.
Conversationally addressing readers, Sanchez adeptly conveys fascinating facts (“seaweed is as different from land plants as a bird is from a fish”) about her subject. Short sentences, accessible vocabulary, lively comparisons (e.g., drawing parallels between sea and avian predators like sharks and hawks), and revelations—like learning that seaweed affects even those who don’t live right by the ocean because it sustains air and water and provides food—will keep readers absorbed. Gleaming color photos are engaging and sometimes amusing, like a beach-strolling Holstein; cows have a big role in this book. There’s also some mystery (what isseaweed, exactly?), history (seaweed fossils; more recently, using Irish moss as fertilizer), and reimagining (Sanchez invites readers to see seaweed as an underwater forest). Climate change, inevitably, plays a role in this work, and some harmful potential of algae is noted, but seaweed’s positives (in the creation of bioplastics, medicines, and, especially, food) dominate. Finally, the book adroitly returns to the people, cows, and a question introduced in the first pages. The last chapter cites other potential uses (fuel, insulation, paper), celebrating seaweed’s future.
Fact-loving, sea-loving, science-loving, and just plain curious readers will find much to chew over here. (glossary, recipe for mermaid confetti, information on foraging for and eating seaweed, timeline, tips on seeing and saving seaweed, bibliography, source notes, photo credits, index) (Nonfiction. 8-12)
★ "This engaging entry in the Books for a Better Earth series tackles an impressive variety of topics. . . . The conversational writing is casual and captivating, and the appealing elements of colored text blocks, fascinating asides, and carefully condensed chapters makes all the information easily digestible. . . . An inspiring and expansive introduction well worth diving into."—Booklist, Starred Review
★ "Conversationally addressing readers, Sanchez adeptly conveys fascinating facts (“seaweed is as different from land plants as a bird is from a fish”) about her subject. Short sentences, accessible vocabulary, lively comparisons (e.g., drawing parallels between sea and avian predators like sharks and hawks), and revelations—like learning that seaweed affects even those who don’t live right by the ocean because it sustains air and water and provides food—will keep readers absorbed.... Fact-loving, sea-loving, science-loving, and just plain curious readers will find much to chew over here."—Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review
"A fascinating work about the importance of a seemingly simple life form with a gigantic impact, this is a strong choice for middle grade collections."—School Library Journal