I discovered a soon-to-be-released must-read Perfect Picture Book that I hope is on everyone’s radar. I had the pleasure of reading a digital copy on Edelweiss. Enjoy!
Title: Fourteen Ways of Looking at Jellyfish
Written By: Carole Boston Weatherford
Illustrated By: Bagram Ibatoulline
Publisher/Date: Candlewick Press/May 2026
Suitable for Ages: 4-8
Themes/Topics: jellyfish, poetry, nonfiction, sea creatures, science, observation
Opening:
From a Dock.
A child gazes at moon jellies
pulsing in a brackish creek.
Brief Synopsis: Fourteen free-verse poems with facts, history, mythology and more about jellyfish.
Links to Resources:
· Check out the Bibliography and “For Further Exploration” sections in the back matter;
· Discover more about jellyfish;
· Check out these ten easy jellyfish crafts for kids.
Why I Like this Book:
Unless you frequent a beach or spend time in the ocean, jellyfish are creatures you probably think little about. Although I’ve seen them in the waters of the Virgin Islands National Park, I confess to knowing very little about them. Thankfully, Weatherford and Ibatoulline did the research and possess the talents to open our eyes about these fascinating sea creatures that predate dinosaurs. Imagine, a family of creatures that have been floating the seas for almost as long as creatures have existed.
At the get-go, Weatherford invites “a child,” an “anyone” figure, to gaze upon these amazing creatures. In these few lines, we learn that jellyfish “pulse” to move and that they appear in “brackish” waters, that area bridging fresh and salt water.
From there, we dive into more fascinating facts spread across the remaining 13 free verse poems and even learn some mythology.
On its website, Candlewick describes Weatherford’s words as “poetry and playfulness.” I can’t think of a better example of this mixture than this line describing the family and species designations, “If the Latin is Greek to you, just call them jellies.”
Not only is Fourteen Ways of Looking at Jellyfish a treat for the ears, but it’s a treat for the eyes. Ibatoulline demonstrates so many different styles of illustration, each perfectly fitting the subject at hand.
Whether read at home or in a classroom, with children who are familiar or unfamiliar with jellyfish, Fourteen Ways of Looking at Jellyfish is a must-read, deep dive into this topic.
A Note about Craft:
Weatherford, a master poet, is well known for tackling historical topics, much of it rooted in the African American experience. So I was surprised to discover she has written a book about jellyfish. But what an entrée into the world of these sea creatures. By breaking down the information into 14 discrete poems, Weatherford helps these creatures come alive on the page, even for those unfamiliar or perhaps afraid of them. Anyone wondering how best to organize reams of research about a particular topic will do well to study Fourteen Ways of Looking at Jellyfish – maybe you’ll discover a new way to share your research.
This Perfect Picture Book entry is being added to Susanna Hill’s Perfect Picture Book list. Check out the other great picture books featured there!
Wander, Ponder, Write 