Review by Ian Keogh

Anyone who’s picked up the first Sea Creatures in Their Own Words knows what to expect, from Christophe Cazenove and Jytéry, and there’s no shortage of topics to cover in a second volume. There’s no continuity, just clever, mainly single page strips where a form of undersea life explains about themselves.

It’s a class act from first page to last, and comments about one volume will apply to any other. They’re funny, pack a lot of information into each strip, and really are very well drawn. Perhaps more so than other educational graphic novels colour is important, as Alexandre Amouriq and Mirabelle supply the shades enabling one species to be distinguished from another. When the opportunity arises they really go to town with vivid colour such as the coral page. Of course, without Jytéry’s efforts there wouldn’t be anything to colour, and he’s once again great at supplying personality-rich creatures and their environments. Cartoon exaggeration is required for the jokes, but every species can be verified online.

As before, the facts Cazenove dredges up are frequently amazing, and cover just the sort of topics that will occur to a child’s enquiring mind, many of which will also educate adults. Do fish drink? You’ll find out. What are the various fins for? You’ll find out. Why does a seal have whiskers? You’ll find out.

Completing the package is a further eight pages from the Dinosaurs collection, which takes much the same approach. The next in the series is Shell Life.