In this strikingly illustrated debut with a quirky, surreal sensibility, the tale of an Arctic expedition invites readers to discover an elusive creature.
Dr. Morley absolutely loves jellyfish. Her entire life, she has been fascinated by one specific species, a legendary creature that no one has ever seen. Does the giant Arctic jellyfish even exist? After years of research, Dr. Morley and her crew don their red parkas and set off to icy northern waters in hopes of finding the mysterious creature. The Arctic Circle is filled with wonders: playful orcas, the glowing aurora borealis, and formidable ice shelves—but will Dr. Morley find what she is searching for? Or, perhaps, will it find her? Bringing the stark and breathtaking beauty of the Arctic to life, author-illustrator Chloe Savage’s whimsical and charming adventure into the unknown is sure to capture the imaginations of young explorers.
Chloe Savage received a BA in TV and film set design from Cardiff University in Wales and an MA in children’s book illustration from the Cambridge School of Art in England. She has worked in opera, film, and television, but says she discovered her passion for illustration and storytelling while doodling on call sheets. The Search for the Giant Arctic Jellyfish is her first book. A great lover of food and the seaside, Chloe Savage lives in England.
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. . . . 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.
—Publishers Weekly (starred review)
In this imagined exploration, Dr. Morley, a determined scientist, leads her crew through icy Arctic waters. They see narwhals, beluga whales, and orca, but where is the giant jellyfish? Savage’s ink and watercolor illustrations reveal the secret: The jellyfish has been following them all along. . . playful images are the heart of this engaging story. . . . This voyage may be fictional, but the frustrations—and joys—of scientific exploration are real indeed. Whimsical and wonderful.
—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
Debut author and illustrator Chloe Savage dives into the wonders of the Arctic in a delightful marine adventure featuring female scientist Dr. Morley. Savage pairs her narration with playful ink-and-watercolor illustrations that are so detailed that the reading experience can be as much of an exploration as Morley's search for the jellyfish. . . . The art, silky and fluid as a jellyfish, that graces the pages of this endearing picture book leverages perspective to emphasize the vastness of the Arctic as well as the depth of the chilly waters they are exploring. . . . One can't help but imagine being a member of this crew. Savage creates through text and art a grand adventure perfect for young explorers. The Search for the Giant Arctic Jellyfish is an excellent picture book venture.
—Shelf Awareness (starred review)
Savage presents a fanciful yet plausibly realistic portrayal of an intrepid group of scientists in search of a creature that “everyone talks about but no one has ever seen: the giant Arctic jellyfish.” The jellyfish in question is fictional; however, the documentary-style narration and thoughtful attention to visual details make the exploration feel enticingly real. . . . Savage’s strong command of color, light, and atmosphere shines. . . the giant Arctic jellyfish (depicted with two eyes and expressive body language) remains just out of sight until the story’s very end, adding a gentle touch of humor and enhancing this imaginative celebration of curiosity.
—The Horn Book
Savage’s ink and watercolor art is expertly composed to balance the dreamy wildness of the ocean with the clean orderliness of the ship. . . Viewers will enjoy finding the jellyfish in its various hiding spaces, and full spreads of the Arctic nighttime sky and its underwater counterpart highlight the vastness of a planet that is full of unknowable surprises.
—The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
Young readers will get a kick out of all the team’s close calls as they peer over the wrong side of an iceberg and float directly on top of the giant Arctic jellyfish’s adorably ethereal form. This delightful adventure more than tips its woolly red cap to Wes Anderson’s The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou. . . Try this with sweet-spirited explorers.
—Booklist
Readers will practically feel the cold as they look at images of icebergs and underwater scenes set in the frigid Arctic waters. . . a wonderful read-aloud.
—School Library Connection
Chloe Savage presents a playful chronicle of an imaginary expedition in “The Search for the Giant Arctic Jellyfish.”. . . In Ms. Savage’s delicate, detailed pictures, we see the research ship in cutaway: a chef wearing a toque is reading in the galley; crew members are working on laptops in a room lined with charts; a comfy four-poster bed is waiting in the captain’s quarters. On the journey, the team beholds wonders—narwhals, beluga whales, even the aurora borealis—but there is no sign of the famed Arctic Jellyfish. Or is there? Readers, who have a much better view of things than Dr. Morley and her crew, will get a kick out of the mounting suspense and happy finale in this charming picture book for children ages 3-7.
—The Wall Street Journal
