Thank you to the publishers for providing an advance ebook via Netgalley. This is a beautifully illustrated book that I shared with my daughter – older children could read it by themselves. It takes you on a journey to discover different animals and ecosystems in the oceans around the world.. Its text describes these habitats and provides a gentle but clear indication of how humans impact this environment through plastic litter and climate change - which opens up discussions on what can be done to help. If your child enjoyed Octonauts and wants something factual but still ‘a picture book’, they would enjoy this book with its gorgeous colourful illustrations.

Stunning book, packed full of information to spark the interest of young readers. The front cover has an ambiguity about it as to whether you're about to read a story book or non-fiction. This is something my daughter found really intriguing. She loves to find out information, but will often seek out fiction titles independently as she is drawn to the wonderful cover illustrations. This book cover really called to her. As you begin to read, you know it's a book giving information, but Charlotte Guillian's style of writing sweeps you away in the narrative of the ocean. The vocabulary is just sublime and it's very much a hybrid of a book that teeters on telling you the tales of the sea in tantalising prose brimming full of facts to devour.

I'd highly recommend this book. Thank you to the publisher and #NetGalley for this electronic ARC for review. #TheDeepBlue

How do you make the wonders of the deep fascinating for children, teach them interesting facts, and make them think about the damage being wrought upon our oceans? With a book that does all of the above and with beautifully illustrated pictures.

The book is designed to teach children about the wonders of the ocean, capture their interest in the unknown depths, while exploring the many diversities of the ocean. From the wonders found on the seashore, to the many species of fish and mammals that call the oceans of our planet, home. It is not over complicated in its description of the various aspects of the ocean, how tides are formed, the underwater forests, the symbiotic relationships that are needed for life to thrive. In the detailing of these different biosystems, there is also the subtle message concerning the effects of global warming and pollution upon our oceans.

Through out the book you will find beautifully illustrated pictures by Lou Baker Smith, and she deserves credit for the pictures that paint a thousand words, cliched I know, but worth the praise, as her illustrations also help tell the story of the ocean.

The book is aimed at the older child, have you heard a five-year-old trying to pronounce phytoplankton, but my five-year-old son was fascinated with the pictures, picking out the sea creatures he knows from watching ‘The Octonauts’. My 9-year-old was also intrigued with the details and facts, but the pictures grabbed his attention even more. He mentioned, particularly the pictures found on pages 40&41, how they had made him sad, as it depicts marine animals trapped in plastic waste. It struck a strong chord with him and lead to a further conversation about the state of the ocean and what he could do, to make it better. Those pictures made a bigger impact on him, than I could. And for that, I am grateful to the author and illustrator.

VERDICT: 4****/5 from my two sons. The book is informative and beautifully illustrated, providing a glimpse into the wonders of the deep. Hopefully instilling a love for these wonders and a desire to protect them for all future generations.

This book contains so much fascinating information about all of the sea creatures, plants and natural formations throughout the oceans of the world. I learnt so much reading it and my daughter was captivated by the beautiful illustrations and all the interesting facts.
This would be a very valuable book to have in a primary school for children to dip into for projects or to learn new things. It also contains a section on how to look after our oceans which is so important.
I'll definitely be purchasing a hard copy of this for our family bookshelf when it is published in June. Thank you to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group for this eARC.

I received an advanced copy of this e-book to read and review. Thank you NatGalley, the author and publishers for allowing me this opportunity. This illustrated, lyrical picture book looks at plants, animals, and natural formations in Earth's amazing ocean ecosystems, from the smallest creatures to the largest predators, gently covering the topic of global warming. The Deep Blue is beautifully illustrated and is a great introduction to ocean habitats and ecosystems for any wildlife/nature enthusiast.

I love the illustrations and the colour palette in this beautiful book. Children need more books like this because we all need to protect our planet, and children are our future. Learning about nature at an early age is a must, and this book is so fun to read. Lovely work!

Beautiful and educational book!

Lovely illustrations, about almost everything you can find in the water and it's surrounding. It's an interesting read for children of all age and their parents!

I wish there were more books like this, will be getting hard copy as a present to few kiddies.

A great informative book that delves deep under the surface of the sea to educate children. The book contains a vast variety of aquatic creatures and animals, with illustrations that are fun and support the text on the pages. It touches on several different environmental factors to inform the reader of the damage that is being caused to the planet and the effects and dangers this is creating for animals and their habitats. The book contains a index at the back so specific topics or animals can be got to easily. It provides children with enough knowledge in this topic, without overwhelming them.

I received an advanced copy of this e-book to read and review. Thank you NatGalley, the author and publishers for allowing me this opportunity.