PICTURE BOOK REVIEW & AUTHOR INTERVIEW: The Search for Carmella by Chloe Savage
ABOUT THE BOOK
Ever since Dr. Rose was a little girl playing in rock pools, she has always loved exploring the sea and the weird and wonderful creatures living there. Now, as a marine biologist, Dr. Rose is in search of a sea creature rumored to reside within the ocean’s hidden depths, a mysterious beast that many speak of but no one has ever seen: Carmella. With her team of scientists and explorers, descending in a submersible to the unfathomable dark of the deep ocean, what incredible creatures will Dr. Rose discover inhabiting a nearly pitch-black world? Rich with the magnificent sea life that can be found in deep water, Chloe Savage’s strikingly illustrated tale of a strong-willed woman scientist will spark young readers to pursue their own dreams, no matter how elusive.
AUTHOR INTERVIEW
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| https://www.wordsandpics.org/2024/11/after-whirlwind-chloe-savage.html |
*What are the advantages and disadvantages of being both author & illustrator?
The greatest advantage has to be the creative freedom for my imagination, which is also interestingly, the disadvantage for being both author and illustrator. The creative process is non-linear, so when things are coming on well it feels euphoric, but when progress dips, the weight of responsibility for the whole can feel daunting. The advantages far outweigh the disadvantages, this is the best job in the world.
*What led you to combine the mythological and the scientific in your story?
The connection between mythology and science in the work, I think stems firstly from the feeling of awe I experience in the natural world. The hidden wonders of our world are what drive many scientists to be curious, to study and ask questions about our word and to make new leaps in understanding. For me there is something magical about the place where where this curiosity and science meet. In “The Search for Carmella” I play with the scale of real deep sea creatures, which pulls from the science and my imagination. Remember that many of our folklore and myths have roots in ancient history, and sometimes the real world is even stranger than fantasy.
*If I could travel anywhere, I would go ….
...to French Polynesia. I am in the process of planning a trip to Tahiti, and I could not be more excited, it is going to be an amazing adventure.
*How much research did you need to do for your book?
For all my books I do a huge amount of research, I read around the subject, watch every documentary and video I can find. The books are very highly detailed, and I like to give my imagination lots of material to work with. Some of the best research is radio interviews with anecdotes of other people’s adventures. It is a huge compliment when scientists write to me to say how correct the details are, because every single tiny detail is important to me.
There is an important point in my book making, where I immerse myself in the research, and then deliberately put it to one side. I then try and make work from my imagination and see what truly resonated in the research. It helps to distill down the things which are important.
*I noticed that this book is the type where the audience knows more than the main character. I find that it inspires me to want to tell the main character what she is missing. If you could meet your characters, what would you say to them?
To Dr Morley, I would tell her to persevere.
To Dr Rose, I would say to practice mindfulness and take the time to appreciate the wonders around you.
To Commander Julia, I would say be patient, and meet strangers with kindness.
REVIEW
Eager to find the legendary beast called Carmella, Dr. Rose, a marine biologist sets out with an entirely female crew to explore the deep ocean. With the help of Anne, a submersible pilot, Dr. Rose heads down into the ocean in search of the creature. As in Mac Barnett's masterpiece, Sam and Dave Dig a Hole, readers know more about what happens in the deep ocean than Dr. Rose and Anne. Young readers and listeners are bound to call out the magnificent find that the scientists never quite discover. And yet, despite the seeming failure, the two marvel at the incredible creatures they did see and experience. They are not discouraged, only eager to keep exploring because ,"science is magic". A delightful combination of imagination and exploration, readers will feel the excitement that Dr. Rose feels for her journey of discovery. The ink and watercolor illustrations wonderfully highlight the beauty of the deep ocean and the strangeness of the creatures that can be found in that habitat. Young readers are likely to giggle at the fact that the mysterious beast learns more about the explorers than they do about it. Ultimately the book resonates with the remarkable nature of scientific exploration.
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