Book Review - Sea Slime

Sea Slime: It's Eeuwy, Gooey and Under the Sea

By: Ellen Praeger
Illustrated by: Shennen Bersani
Publisher: Arbordale Publishing
Publication Date: February 2014
ISBN: 978-1628552102
Reviewed by: Deb Fowler
Review Date: March 2014

A colorful clownfish peeked out from inside a sea anemone and watched the ocean come alive with activity. A school of fish hurriedly passed overhead while a zebra moray eel kept watch as a colorful parrotfish approached. There was something else interesting in the water, something “gooey” and very icky. It was sea slime, a substance that “slips, slides, and sticks.” Some creatures don’t use that slime, but instead are made up of it. Take for example that jellyfish that is hanging down in the water. Its “whole body is see-through slime.” Amazing, but true!

Everyone knows that snails and slugs can be very gooey and slimy. They are really slow creatures and in order to go “faster, a sea slug travels over its own slippery goo.” Perhaps the sea butterfly is a creature you’ve never seen before, but it too uses that slime. In order to catch critters to eat, sea butterflies “blow a bubble of mucus like a parachute of sticky goo.” If any little critter gets caught on it, look out! The sea butterfly has its lunch when they “slurp up their bubble of slime.” Yuk! Some use that ocean goo to protect themselves, some to capture food, and some use it to travel.

This is a fun book about “eeuwy, gooey” ocean sea slime kids will love. Of course that yuk factor is something a lot of young students are drawn to. In this book they will learn how sea creatures learn to use that disgusting slime to their advantage. The gross factor is there, but the learning one is there as well. Some of these deep sea creatures may be familiar while others such as the vampire squid and the hagfish might not be. The artwork is quite vibrant, colorful, and is very appealing. My favorite is the two-page spread of several different types of moray eels. In the back of the book are four pages of activities, including an all-time favorite, “Make Your Own Slime.” There are additional complementary resources on the publisher’s website.

Quill says: This is a great book with lots of eeuwy, gooey sea creatures that has great kid-appeal!