"This deftly told narrative would be grand fun to read aloud… Rosenstock’s concise text exudes energy and makes wonderful use of alliteration… Roy’s gorgeous, watercolorlike illustrations swirl with vibrant hues and would show well to a group. Youngsters will be sucked into this engaging, informative account of a most unusual ecosystem."
—Kirkus, starred review ★
Sea Without a Shore
Life in the Sargasso
A single piece of seaweed buoys a fascinating ecosystem in this nonfiction picture book from award-winning creators Barb Rosenstock and Katherine Roy.
From bryozoans and snails to shrimps, eels, swordfish, and whales, the Sargasso Sea provides a home to countless types of marine life, thanks to the prevalence of microalgae called sargassum. Following a single blade of this extraordinary seaweed as it grows and spreads, readers see what it provides for the sea’s organisms: a base for hydroids and tube worms to filter and feed, shelter for anemones and nudibranchs and their nutritious waste, hunting grounds for crabs and amphipods, and a source of nourishment and protection for the fish, birds, whales, and reptiles that feed on these smaller creatures.
Through a widening scope on this intricate interdependence, Barb Rosenstock celebrates one of our planet’s most diverse and important ecosystems and the unassuming seaweed that sustains it. Gorgeously illustrated with Katherine Roy’s rich, eye-catching artwork, Sea Without a Shore is as fluid and rhythmic as the currents that shape this tidal home.
by Barb Rosenstock, illustrated by Katherine Roy
Norton Young Readers, September 10, 2024. Ages 4-8 years
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Resources: Download Educator Guide & Text Set Guide
On Location in Bermuda!
What's it like to do research on location for a book? Join author Barb Rosenstock and author/illustrator Katherine Roy for this one-minute video as they peer into clumps of sargassum seaweed to watch the crawling frogfish, pinching crabs, and skittering shrimp that call this floating ecosystem home. This footage was filmed on location in 2022 during Barb and Katherine’s research trip to Bermuda.
Join Hannah Olsen and Katherine Roy for this KATU Portland Afternoon Live interview to celebrate the launch of her second book with author Barb Rosenstock, Sea Without a Shore: Life in the Sargasso. From research to sketching to seaweed, it’s just in time for National Beach Day!
Join Hannah Olsen and science author/illustrator Katherine Roy to celebrate World Ocean Day with this Paper Plate Sargasso Sea craft inspired by the art in Katherine's new book, Sea Without a Shore. The book will hit shelves everywhere on 9/10/2024!
Advance Praise for Sea Without a Shore
How does a book get printed?
Kids always want to know how my drawings get made into a book, and the printer was kind enough to take careful footage of Sea Without a Shore while it was on press in China. I’m stunned by how many machines there are, and yet still so much is done by hand. Enjoy!
Book events with Sea Without a Shore
“I was so inspired by you in Las Vegas last August that I am planning a research unit with a 6th grade ELA teacher using Elephant, Sharks, and Otis & Will as anchor texts. My colleague was awed by these books and is excited for the collaboration. Thank you!!”
