Welcome to Barnacle Bay

Crammed with ocean puns ("Shell-phones off, please!"), interesting factoids ("Young hermit crabs and young anemones bond with each other"), and nods to environmental damage ("Some big threats to kelp are pollution and climate change"), this information-packed graphic novel, the first in a series, uses a chance encounter between Crab and a tiny, floating blob, Larva, to explore sea creatures and plants. Crab is, well, crabby at first ("Heeey! Watch where you're going!"), until Larva explains its mission: "I'm not actually sure where I'm going... but I'll know when I find it!" Crab begrudgingly agrees to show Larva around, and gradually softens to expose a warm, kind heart. In polished cartoon-style panel artwork by Curll (Busy Scooters), the two visit a kelp forest, learn about anemones, meet bivalves, and more: "Everyone in the bay has an important role to play," the crustacean turned tour guide says. At last, Larva finds a place to settle--and makes an unexpected reveal. Each section is followed by a slightly less tongue-in-cheek informative sidebar, with a few comedic asides sprinkled throughout this cheerful introduction to marine life. Ages 6--9. (Apr.)

Pun-tastic introductions to kelp, sea stars, shellfish, and other residents of ocean shallows. "You can run, but you can't tide!" quips a sea star on the title page--giving fair warning of what's in store as a crabby purple shore crab offers newly arrived Larva a tour of the local seafloor as the newcomer searches for a site to settle down. They make "best fronds" with a clump of indignant kelp who oust a garbage-strewing human snorkeler by tickling the interloper's feet. Later, the pair meet a "clam-edian" with a "fine shell-ection" of other bivalves, then pause for closer looks at the behavior and anatomy of plankton and echinoderms. They also experience "tentacle difficulties" with "Friends 'N' Anemones" and take occasional timeouts for further goofy wordplay before watching night fall. "The moon is full of themselves tonight." "Don't worry, it's just a phase." There's informational purpose behind all the drollery that swirls through Curll's banter and cartoon panels; readers will readily absorb a substantial dose of nutritious facts. Ultimately Larva literally fastens on a suitable rock and changes into a barnacle, after which the two join their button-eyed community beneath a rushing wave in collectively waving goodbye to viewers. A steady flow of slap-happy seafloor pun-ditry.(Graphic nonfiction. 8-10) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.