Speck

January 12, 2024

K-Gr 3-In her second book, Meganck (People are Wild) follows a tiny speck in the ocean as it looks for a place to stay and grow. This speck's quest is compared to a barnacle, a child, and more abstractly, the stars. In contrast to the first book's shorter text and succinct message, this one's meaning is less obvious. Although targeted for young readers, the intentions are abstract; the journey to find a place in the world is hard and "the safest thing to do is hide," but a hidden speck would "miss out on the adventure." Reading this story with older children can lead to philosophical discussions and connections. The illustrations are undoubtedly the highlight of the book, showing a vibrant ocean world with colorful sea creatures painted in bright watercolors. VERDICT While the illustrations are sure to capture the attention of children, the deeper message may be best appreciated by older readers. A supplemental purchase.-Heidi Dechief

Copyright 2024 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

February 19, 2024
Expressive prose and immersive underwater scenes produce a feeling of awe in this contemplative picture book about a tiny oceanic speck’s search for a place that feels like home. Amid the toes of human bathers in a tide pool, “countless tiny specks” float forth, weaving among creatures such as a jellyfish, sea turtle, sea urchin, and puffer fish. Their number declines when the specks drift along (“Tossed by waves,// carried by currents,// each speck searching// for a place to stay, and grow”), and a profound moment occurs in the depths, where a single luminous spark glows amid an absorbing inky-hued spread (“One tiny speck/ can get lost in an ocean so vast./ Where big feels bigger,// and small feels smaller”). Still, the speck persists in its journey until it settles on a majestic creaturely perch, and pages zoom outward in successive aerials that contextualize the speck’s place in the world. Color layering produces an iridescent chalkiness in Meganck’s soothing artwork. Human background characters are portrayed with different skin tones. Ages 3–6.

Starred review from February 1, 2024
The overwhelming and exquisite journey of tiny ocean dwellers. Meganck tells the story of tiny specks that begin life in a tide pool, make their way through open waters and currents of all kinds, and elude potential predators until they courageously find what they've been seeking. These powerful specks grow into barnacles that make their home on a blue whale. While readers are following these tiny life-forms, Meganck skillfully draws parallels between the human experience and the specks' fraught yet important adventure: "Where big feels bigger, and small feels smaller. The safest thing to do is hide. But a hidden speck would miss out on the adventure, the wonder, and the satisfaction of finding exactly what they were looking for." The stunning, vivid watercolors show the vastness of the watery world beneath our toes, like the sky full of stars above our heads. The sea creatures are drawn in vibrant detail, from the suckers on an octopus to a jellyfish's tentacles. A colorful school of fish swirls and twists its way around the blue whale. The subtle and potent connection between us and these tiny specks makes for a poignant, reflective story that's every bit as relevant to children as it is to adults. Meganck remarkably finds a way to make our great smallness in the wide world a convincing comfort. Deeply moving. (Picture book. 3-7)

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March 15, 2024
Preschool-Grade 2 Using succinct yet lyrical text, Meganck recounts the adventures of a tiny speck (a baby barnacle?) whose quest to find its proper place in the universe requires an epic ocean journey. Released into a tide pool, with countless others of its kind, the speck sweeps ""past creatures who cling to rocks, / past flickering fins and flashing scales."" Carried away by currents and shifting tides, one speck eventually finds a perfect ""place to stay, and grow, / and thrive. / Something every speck needs."" The digitally enhanced, colored pencil and watercolor illustrations favor blues and greens, which contrast nicely with the white specks. Spreads are varied to include wide shots, close-ups, and smaller inset art. Most creatures are anthropomorphic with distinct facial features. Although none of the species are identified, many young listeners will recognize crabs, whelks, sea stars, kelp, turtles, octopuses, sea anemones, and, of course, the whale where the speck eventually finds its niche. The opening and closing scenes include humans, emphasizing that all of us share the speck's needs. Cozy and satisfying.

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