Speck by Margaux Meganck

  Some time ago I read a nonfiction book, Little Monsters of the Ocean, about the metamorphoses of various undersea creatures, whose early forms make up much of the zooplankton of the ocean. It's a complex and fascinating subject and I was delighted to see that someone has managed to translate it into simple picture book form in this beautifully illustrated title.

Soft blues, greens, and purples cover a tide pool where a spray of white specks shoot out towards the ocean. The stream of specks travel far, swirling around ocean creatures, some of whom snap them up for a meal, drifting together and apart until only a handful of tiny specks remain. Finally, a single speck remains, surrounded by green and blue circles in a black ocean, as the story shifts from the journey of the zooplankton to an analogy of size and loneliness. The speck continues its journey and joins a rainbow of fish, flowing up and around a whale and the speck is revealed as a larval barnacle. It settles down with friends on the whale itself, small smiley faces peering out of angled shells, and the whale breaches the water with its small attached specks. The story glides to a peaceful conclusion, showing the specks of light that symbolize human gatherings across the globe.

Presenters will need some background knowledge to be able to present the informational aspects of the book, as there is no back matter or nonfiction asides included, but it's a pretty simple life cycle to explain and little ones familiar with the metamorphosis of insects will be able to understand how it applies to undersea creatures. 

Verdict: While the nonfiction aspect appeals most to me, as well as the lovely artwork, adults looking for books confirming solidarity, kindness, and inclusion will want to add this as well, leading young listeners to consider how we are all connected to the bigger world around us. Recommended.

ISBN: 9780593301975; Published March 2024 by Alfred A. Knopf; Review copy provided by publisher; Donated to the library