The Search for the Giant Arctic Jellyfish

Starred review from July 24, 2023
Whimsical ink and watercolor ship cutaways and sublime icy vistas delight in this fictional picture book about a scientist’s perseverance while searching for a mythical giant Arctic jellyfish. Aboard a cherry-colored vessel headed to “the northernmost tip of the world,” pale-skinned Dr. Morley’s crew—depicted with different skin tones and coordinated cold-weather-wear—chart their path alongside narwhals, mingle with belugas, and observe orcas. There’s a lighthearted seek-and-find effect at play as the jellyfish, an evanescent creature with a playful expression, stays just out of sight. Hope diminishes until an abrupt conclusion suggests that the determined explorer has spotted her quarry at last. Savage’s pictorial storytelling occurs in precise images of ship routines (the chef bakes a lopsided cake, tired crew queue for the bathroom), figures navigating the travails of expedition life, and changing land and sky. Ages 4–8.