Ocean Anatomy: The Curious Parts & Pieces of the World Under the Sea is an illustrated nature notebook, and the fourth in Julia Rothman’s Anatomy Series - following Farm Anatomy, Nature Anatomy, and Food Anatomy.

Divided into eight chapters, Ocean Anatomy’s marine topics include ocean chemistry, bioluminescence, bubble-net feeding, polar ben dens, migration, and the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. There’s lots of popular wildlife: penguins, sharks, sea otters, shorebirds, and jellyfish, and lesser known species as well: chimera, sanderlings, the nightmarish pelican eel, and strange creatures from the midnight zone.

The text is short, clear, and informative; the vocabulary rich. Frazil, nila, bathymetry, galeaophobia, spyhopping - that the book cherishes such terminology is one of its delights. The sting from any possible information overload is removed by the jaunty wonkiness and accessibility of Rothman’s sketches. The clean lines and simple colouring reinforce the text and keep it appealing page after page. I loved it! Stand-out illustrations include the kelp forest, the shell identification page, the lobster buoys, and the wallpapers which divide each section.

Ocean Anatomy: The Curious Parts & Pieces of the World Under the Sea will certainly appeal to children, teachers, and parents - but there’s enough detail in this annotated sketchbook to interest adults as well, particularly those living near the seaside, divers and snorkelers, and anyone with an interest in the natural world. Sketchers and those who bullet journal may find inspiration here as well.

Many thanks to Storey Publishing, Julia Rothman, and NetGalley for my advanced reading copy. I read the whole book in one sitting. Delightful.

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