Sami Bayly, How We Came to be: Surprising Sea Creatures, Lothian Children’s Books, September 2022, 32 pp., RRP $19.99 (hbk) ISBN
Take a dive into our oceans and pass through the five zones of our underwater world. Sami Bayly guides readers through a unique experience and introduces us to some extraordinary friends she has made along the way. From Giant Oarfish to Comb Jelly Fish, Bayly will unearth our evolution phenomenon and reveal How We Came to Be Surprising Sea Creatures.
Bayly has produced a very educational read targeted to younger readers. Her picture book uses simple language and simple conversation speech bubbles to allow readers to easily follow through the pages. The author is very creative in personifying the sea creatures which brings the animals to life. While reading, I was eager see what sea animal was waiting for me on the flip side and discover the new character Bayly would introduce. I was also looking forward to reading the fun facts that are scattered throughout the narrative. I loved how she emphasises specific features of the animals by comparing them to household names. For example, the deep-sea flounder is compared to choc-chip pancakes as its most notable traits are its brown spots and super flat body.
Not only are the words on the page well presented, but the illustrations are also captivating. The level of detail and choices of colour highlight the features of the animals Bayly wants to draw the readers’ attention to. It is extremely interesting and strategic of the author to zoom into each animal when introducing them, then gave a second perspective where readers can see the animals scaled size to a human, often another shocking factor. The use of contrast is also eye catching and adds depth to the narrative. I especially loved how Bayly also includes glimpses of other animals also found dwelling in the same ocean zones as the creature being discussing.
Sami Bayly is well known in children’s picture book circles – especially those with Ugly, Dangerous and Peculiar features. Much like her other books, Bayly is the sole author and illustrator of Surprising Sea Creatures, and I wouldn’t have it any other way! I recommend this read to not only children, but those who would love to learn more about the depths of our oceans. I truly learned a lot from this read and was quite fascinated by all the creatures that I did not even know existed! An important theme that Bayly also touches on towards the end of her book is the importance of looking after our waters. Bayly reveales that some of our litter has made it all the way to the trenches! This is a very important message which Bayly leaves her readers with to remind us of the human impact on earth.
Reviewed by Anna Tran
