‘So much to sea!’ These are the words that open this book. Our tour guide for the world’s oceans is a moon jellyfish named Neptune.

We are introduced to the five oceans that divide the world’s water. Did you know there are over 50 seas in these oceans? Do you know the difference between an ocean and a sea?

First, we see a map of the oceans including some of the better-known seas. Then Neptune takes us on a deep dive down into each of the oceans to discover what lies beneath. There are the feather duster worms of the Caribbean Sea in the Atlantic Ocean who build a hard tube with sand and mud where it can hide from predators. ‘When it’s hungry, it fans out its feathery tentacles from the top of the tube to catch any food drifting by.’ We swim among the giant kelp that are thriving in the coast of California. In the Arctic and Pacific oceans, we meet the blubbery walrus. Did you know that a walrus makes a call underwater that sounds like the chiming of bells?

The fun information in Drop Into the Ocean is well laid out and covers a wide variety of marine life. The illustrations are lovely and colourful, filling the pages from corner to corner. A great book for younger readers to explore the watery depths and what lives there.

Reviewed by Emily Ross

Age Guide 6+

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Karen Wasson is a children’s author based in Melbourne, Australia. Her fiction and non-fiction writing for children has appeared in The School Magazine, Double Helix and UK publication, The Toy. In 2023 she was awarded an ASA/CA mentorship. She has also been shortlisted for the Australian Writers’ Centre Furious Fiction competition and the Wyndham Writing Awards, and in 2022, was shortlisted for Hardie Grant Children’s Publishing’s Ampersand Prize.

Visit Karen Wasson’s website

ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATOR

Marta Tesoro is an illustrator and animator who has been in the industry for over 20 years. She has worked on multiple TV series that have aired on both local channels and streaming services. She has also animated for commercials, music videos, games and has illustrated for books, educational materials, exhibitions and commissions.