A gorgeous examination of the intertidal zone, West Coast Wild at Low Tide by Deborah Hodge and Karen Reczuch is like taking a trip out to the Pacific Ocean.

Through her eloquent and poetic words, Deborah Hodge takes young readers on a field trip to the Pacific Ocean to meet some of the fascinating creatures that live in the intertidal zone. At once underwater and out of the water she explains very clearly how these creatures have adapted to live in these harsh conditions. Although this is a non fiction picture book, the text feels like so much more than plain scientific words on a page. The way she describes each animal flows like the tide in and out creating an experience for the reader instead of just disseminating information.

The illustrations by Karen Reczuch are incredible. She covers incredible two page spreads with life life illustrations of all the creatures. The illustrations are immersive and inviting and makes the book easy to share with a group of young marine biologists. 

I appreciate the heart that went into this book. It reads like a story but it’s filled with the perfect amount of information to hook young readers. Readers can really get the sense that the Pacific intertidal zone is a magical and special place. The back of the book is complete with information to further your learning with web links as well as other books for reading.

A beautiful book that will be lovingly enjoyed by all.