Beneath the Waves

Dive deep into the ocean and discover the wondrous creatures that live below... See the underwater world as never before as artist Helen Ahpornsiri transforms hand-pressed silky seaweeds, feathery algae and bright coastal blooms into playful penguins, scuttling crabs and schools of silvery sharks. Hidden beneath the waves is another world entirely. In underwater cities of coral, schools of fish flash their iridescent scales while great whales sing to each other across the vast expanse of the open ocean. Dive deeper and on the seabed you will find alien-looking creatures beyond your wildest imagining. Turn the page to explore each corner of the oceans, from hidden rock pools to the darkest depths. Marvel as plants transform into amazing creatures, and discover the magic and beauty that lies beneath the waves. Each chapter of the book explores a different ocean realm, brought to life with hand-pressed seaweed and coastal flowers. The rock pool is fringed with sea lettuce, blades of bead weed circle the eye of the squid while coral weed paints the anglerfish a pale pink. Ahpornsiri creates intricate collages using real flora and foliage. Each illustration is made up of hundreds of leaves and flowers which are foraged or grown, then preserved with traditional flower-pressing methods. The plants are organised by species or colour before being cut and delicately arranged to form birds, insects and other creatures in designs filled with tiny patterns and tangles of plant life. The unique, imaginative and multi-coloured artwork - coupled with Lily Murray's beautiful, lyrical text - make this book an extraordinary journey through ocean life and one that will be treasured by readers young and old. -- Pam Norfolk * Northern Regional Newspapers *
Following the success of her first book, A Year in the Wild, artist Helen Aphornsiri has ventured underwater to create a beautiful follow-up: Beneath the Waves. With Illustrations carefully created form pressed flowers, each chapter journeys through different realms of the ocean, from hidden rock pools to the darkest depths. * Period Living *

Helen's books are true masterpieces. Every single creature is intricately crafted from a colourful array of costal plants and seaweeds which are skilfully collaged into their final form.
'Beneath the Waves' is an exploration of the hidden aquatic worlds in the depths of the ocean. Each chapter explores a different realm (the coast, the open ocean, the tropics and polar waters) with tantalising glimpses of some of the weird and wonderful species which reside there.
With clearly presented text full of wonderful vocabulary and new facts to marvel at, I would recommend this title for readers aged 8+

* Library Girl and Book Boy *

Using hand-pressed seaweeds
and coastal plants foraged from
around her home on England's
south coast, artist Helen Ahpornsiri
brings our ocean to life in her
follow-up to A Year in the Wild.
Coupled with lyrical text and
curious facts from writer Lily
Murray we meet a 'bustling city'
of underwater creatures from
clownfish to sharks, offering
children and adults a mesmerising
deep dive into life under the sea.

* Coast *