Dive, Dive into the Night Sea

Thea Lu has created a stunning book, one that explores the depths of the sea, opens it up, lets us in, shares with us the magic of the underwater world. It is an escape into worlds that most of us would not be able to imagine without it. It is a tale within a tale, a tale to spark wonder, to inspire… A magical book, a special book, a book for everyone in every place. ~Armadillo Magazine

This narrative non-fiction book is beautifully illustrated and designed. The greyscale illustrations shot through with torchlight and bioluminescent colour are full of atmosphere. We enter an eerie yet magical silent world, where manta rays swoop overhead and sperm whales drift vertically near the surface as they sleep. Flaps on each page lift to reveal more secrets of the sea at night. The story can be enjoyed by younger children, following the narrative text, while older children will be fascinated by the hidden information. ~Juno Magazine

[This] combination of a beautiful and cunningly designed book, a fascinating subject and some brilliant artwork is, I would suggest, irresistible...The book itself is an experience and that’s a rare attribute and one that can be appreciated by all ages – this is most certainly a book that crosses over from a children’s to an adult audience effortlessly. ~The Letterpress Project

A stunning picture book… The best thing about this story though are the magical illustrations that really capture life in the depths of the ocean. My son was entranced. It is such a beautiful book and an instant favourite. We loved it! ~Family Book Club

There is a dreaminess about this main narrative, almost tempting the reader to see this as a bedtime book (which in the hands of the right reader it might be) but there is more to discover; the clever construction of the book invites the curiosity of the reader. The lyrical main text and illustrations are augmented by flaps – some of which need searching for in the thick paper and dark artwork – and when the reader lifts the flaps, explaining the protective goo of a sleepy parrotfish and the light-sensitive behaviours of zooplankton, we are drawn into the complexities of this dark world. Here vocabulary is stretched and knotty issues explained. The artwork is incredibly bold, but is not vibrant, rather it is muted: a whole palette of greys and dark blues is employed to give a sense of nocturnal adventure by involving the reader in the uncertainties and shadows of a night dive. It is effective because it is so restrained. We are not always clear what the rays swimming among the swirling bioluminescence are doing. This is not a bad thing: we are participating in, not merely observing, the awe and excitement of the dive. Only the diver’s torch illuminates – and then the torch is turned off… This a book for the child or adult who has encountered the undersea world on holiday, or via TV, and wants to learn more, a haunting journey into the dark where shapes can be discerned, and where whole ecosystems thrive. ~Books for Keeps