Review Detail

Part of the Big Questions Answered series, CAN WE SURVIVE WITHOUT SEAWEED focuses on the science behind phycology. It takes readers across the ocean on a journey to learn about seaweed and how important it is to life and the Eart.

What I Loved:
Practically every page is covered in vibrant illustrations of sea life and the uses for seaweed. Brimming with colors, the pictures demand attention but do not take away from the information being shared. Instead, the art is used to enhance the information, giving children a way to connect the information to examples.

Phycology is not a word many children from 5-9 have heard about before. It’s an important topic, but it also sounds like something too advanced for younger children to understand. The author is aware of that though and manages to convey the topics and information in a way that children reading the book will be able to understand. By using more age-appropriate language, they manage to explain the importance of seaweed to Earth.

This book may use words above the suggested age range, but they seem to try to do it in a way that children will still be able to understand. At the back of the book is a glossary with definitions for harder words. There is also a pronunciation guide for some of the terms. A way to challenge students with a wider vocabulary, while also still ensuring that they are able to understand the book.

Final Verdict:
Full of vibrant images that help convey the information of the book, COULD WE SURVIVE WITHOUT SEAWEED is an age-appropriate look at the study of seaweed. Using a glossary and additional resources at the back, the author manages to convey a tough topic in a way that children will hopefully be able to understand.