About this book

Dive in to this whimsically adventurous graphic novel from Caldecott Medalist Dan Santat!

Ever since her father was lost at sea, Sophia has been moping around Aqualand, the marine theme park her dad and uncle created. But Sophia's world is turned upside down when an "aquanaut" breaks into the park's research lab.

To her amazement, Sophia discovers that the aquanaut is not what it seems — inside lives a band of four goofy sea creatures! And when they all realize that Aqualand has evolved into something much darker than Sophia's dad had envisioned, Sophia is determined to help the aquanaut crew free the park's captive marine life before it's too late.

Reviews

An American Library Association Best Graphic Novel for Children

★ "Kinetic panel artwork impresses throughout, with smart pacing that swings between hilarity and suspense." -- Publishers Weekly, starred review

"The art in this graphic tale is something special... Santat's vividly expressive visuals are, even more than usual, riveting." -- Kirkus Reviews

"An endearing tale of love, loss, and the value of family -- biological and found." -- School Library Journal

"Poignant and often funny, The Aquanaut is Santat's triumphant return to the graphic novel genre." -- NPR

"A spirited and thrilling story." -- Shelf Awareness

"A humorous and heartwarming tale." -- BookPage

Praise for Sidekicks:

"Hilarious and heartfelt... a charming and well-told tale about friendship." -- Kazu Kibuishi, creator of Amulet

"The lovable menagerie of crime-fighting pets offers lots of laughs and a boisterous and exuberant storyline; Santat's illustrations are clear, engaging, and neatly stacked into easy-to-read panels." -- Kirkus Reviews

"Lively, insightful, and just plain fun, this convergence of capes and creatures will find a wide audience in animal lovers and superhero fans alike." -- Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books