It's truly amazing how many creatures depend on seaweed, and how an entire ecosystem can form around a bit of algae. Stunning illustrations by Katherine Roy should keep the younger set fascinated, while older children will enjoy learning about amazing variety of sea life that exists in this shoreless sea.

The Sargasso Sea is the stuff of legends, a shoreless ecosystem, built from currents, teeming with unique life. Lyrical, active, scientifically accurate language pairs with detailed, jewel-toned realistic watercolors, inviting readers to marvel at the rich, complexity and biological importance of a fragile community that owes everything to the Sargassum algae. A diagram and text reveal key species found in the European, North American, Bermudan, Mexican African, Caribbean and South American waters. Suitable for read aloud. The many species hiding within the detailed illustrations make this great for sharp-eyed readers. Back matter includes photographs and an extensive author’s note with additional facts and sources. Thanks to Norton and NetGalley for a review copy in return for an unbiased review.

I think the topic was really interesting, and the pictures were really pretty. The only issue is that the language and word choice were very advanced, so the language might just go over the kids heads.

I'd give this 5 stars for the art alone, but the text drags it down rather badly. The art is stunning, the watercolour hues are absolutely perfect. It's a constant feast for the eyes, and I could spend hours trying to spot all the little details. For the most part, the design is excellent, but I'm really not sure why a different, compact font was used for the names of living things. It was hard to read and a bit distracting. Unfortunately, the text portion is something of a mess. I don't know if Rosenstock was inspired to attempt Fragmentalist poetry because of Sargassum's fragmentary nature, but it doesn't work here. I found the text disjointed, and had to re-read passages multiple times either because I got lost along the way or because I had immediately forgotten it by the time I turned the page. I liked the afterword by Slyvia Earle significantly better!

This book is filled with beautiful illustrations about a natural phenomenon that few know about; a wild patch of seaweed in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. What's special about this, you might ask? Well, this book will draw you into the world of the Saragosa Sea and the amazing variety of creatures that make this ocean feature so delightful to investigate. It's one part nature book, one part look and find, and one part fun picture book. Good for any age from the pre-reader on a parent's lap to an independent reader looking to discover the secrets of the natural world.

This book is about a piece of sargasso seaweed and the eco system that it creates. The writing is informative, but the short sentences make it feel almost poetic. Where this book stands out is the gorgeous watercolor illustrations.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for a review. All my thoughts are my own.

Sea Without a Shore: Life in the Sargasso stands out among the countless books about oceans because it tells the story of a weed. And not just any weed, but the sargassum, which lives only in the Sargasso Sea, and the life it brings with it. It’s a beautifully poetic (and informative) story that makes young readers, and their parents, wonder about all the creatures and untold stories hidden in the dark blue ocean.

Using watercolors was the perfect choice for this book. The illustrations are simply gorgeous. The yellow color of the sargassum stands out beautifully against the vibrant blue of the ocean. (I really hope Roy used a little of the ocean’s water to mix some of the colors.) At the end of the book, you can find some backmatter, including a map and a list with illustrations of all the animals in the book that live in the sargassum weed. You could use this as a fun seek-and-find activity after you’ve finished the book!

This is a beautiful book. The illustrations are done in a loose watercolor style with lots of warm yellows and cool blues. The text has a wonderful rhythm to it and is pleasing to read aloud. The story is informative and soothing and piques curiosity about all the creatures who make the Sargassum home.

Thanks to Norton Young Readers for providing an early copy for review.

This was a beautiful and very educational book! I'll start by talking about the illustrations. I loved how the illustrator wasted absolutely no space on any page. It really made for a stunningly immersive experience. On top of that, all of the sea creatures were drawn and colored perfectly, with loads of accurate detail. The way the illustrator used many different shades of blue brought the water to life without seeming to have a lack of variety or freshness.
For the story, I think that this book will be so helpful in schools. It makes a great foundation for a fun and educational discussion about marine life, and this book will no doubt get kids interested in the sea and the organisms that live in it. Additionally, there is a lot of good information in this book, but it doesn't overwhelm the reader at all. Each idea builds on the last, and it flows almost like a poem, teaching the reader about sea life without dumping a bunch of information into the reader's brain.
Absolutely amazing book, bravo! Get this in your classrooms!!

I saw the cover for this one and knew it would have art that I would want to see. And I was right. The illustrations in this book are gorgeous and I loved flipping back and forth. I also enjoyed the topic and learned new things, which I like about our children’s books that we read. I did struggle with the rhythm and writing style but overall it was a fun read with good extra info in the back.

I received a free ARC via NetGalley for this book. Thank you to NetGalley, publisher and author!

Emerge yourself into the unique and biodiverse world of sargassum! “Sea Without a Shore” is beautifully explores the unique ecosystem of the sargassum sea, the only sea without a shore, combining accurate and educational information with mesmerizing illustrations.

Roy’s illustrations masterfully capture the wonder and complete of the sargassum ecosystem (I keep looking back at the images to see more intricate details).

The research note at the end tied the book together, giving a chance for readers and families to dive deeper into the world of marine science and sargassum.

More engaging than many children's "science" picture books, with some beautiful illustrations! This does a good job of balancing real information with few words so it would be easier to read out loud, and I enjoyed it.

This was a super lovely picture book. I loved the lessons in it. I would totally have the kids try to find the creatures hidden in the Sargasso Sea before they googled or looked at the end to see if they got it correct. I love the watercolors and the art style. Who knew all that existed in this ecosystem? Not I until I read this picture book. Highly recommend in the Elementary classroom.

This book is beautiful. I absolutely love the illustrations, which, to be honest, was half of the reason I wanted to read this book. This was an excellent pairing between Barb Rosenstock and Katherine Roy that shows how many species depend on something as simple as seaweed. Creating an ecosystem in and around itself. Well done!