Sea of Constellations

4.8

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Author(s)

Melissa Cristina Márquez

Co-Authors / Illustrators

Rocío Arreola Mendoza

Publisher

Penguin Workshop

Genre(s)

Age Range

Release Date

May 28, 2024

ISBN

978-0593523605

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Melissa Cristina Márquez returns with a new underwater story perfect for young readers! When the ocean goes dark, Maren the whale shark and her best friend, Remy the remora, set out to find answers and to provide light for those they encounter in this encouraging picture book.

Maren the whale shark loves her life as the biggest, brightest fish in the sea. She spends her days exploring the water around her and finding fresh new snacks as she travels. But one day, the ocean goes dark and Maren’s adventures come to a halt. With only the glow from the scales on her back and her best friend, Remy the remora, by her side, Maren sets out on her greatest quest yet—to cross the ocean and ask the Aztec goddess Huixtocihuatl about the darkness and to figure out how to bring back the light. Along the way she meets new friends and exemplifies the power of sharing!

Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes 30 Under 30 Honoree, globally renowned shark scientist, and author of Mother of Sharks, is back to introduce a variety of fish and other fun sea creatures in this picture book celebrating community, friendship, and supporting others in times of need. Brought to life by Rocío Arreola Mendoza’s stellar illustrations, this ocean adventure is sure to educate and excite young readers about the sea while passing along positive lessons to be used on land.

Editor review

1 review

Kindness and Legends

August 20, 2024

Overall rating

4.8

Plot

5.0

Characters

5.0

Writing Style

5.0

Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)

4.0

Maren the whale shark loves to travel and is the largest and brightest fish in the sea. With the question of why everything is so dark and with her friend Remy at her side, she travels to meet the Aztec goddess Huixtocihuatl to get some answers. Along the way, she meets other fish who are scared of the dark too and offers them one of her scales to brighten their path. By the time she reaches Huixtocihuatl, she learns a valuable lesson: no matter how scary things can be, kind friends give you the courage to face them.

SEA OF CONSTELLATIONS is an enchanting fable that celebrates both marine life and Aztec culture. The illustrations have bold colors that highlight the contrast between light and dark, but sometimes it makes it hard to read the text. Maren is a stunning depiction of a whale shark and I love how her kindness shines brighter than anything. In the back of the book, there is more information about Aztec culture and the marine animals that the author showcases for children to expand on.

Final Verdict: I would recommend this to children aged four and up who enjoy books about marine life, whales, and learning about different legends and cultures. While this book is educational, it also teaches children to be wholesome in an endearing way.