The Girl Who Built and Ocean by Jess Keating and Michelle Mee Nutter - ADVISABLE

The Girl Who Built and Ocean: an artist, an argonaut, and the true story of the world’s first aquarium by Jess Keating and Michelle Mee Nutter. NON-FICTION PICTURE BOOK. Knopf (Random House), 2022. $19.

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS, HS - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Raised as a seamstress, when Jeanne and her husband move to Italy, her imagination is sent soaring by the rich wildlife around her – especially in the ocean. Though at her time women weren’t respected as scientists, she taught herself to observe carefully and use her imagination. It was her imagination to helped her build the first aquarium, so that she could observe certain species in a way that they couldn’t scuttle off into deeper waters.

Such an excellent look at this inventive woman and I’m so glad that we didn’t lose her story. Nutter’s illustrations as gorgeous and she created some lovely endpapers. I do have to wish that the title didn’t call her “girl”, though.

Cindy Mitchell, Library Teacher, MLS