I Am Jellyfish

No wonder I Am Jellyfish won Best Picture Book at this year’s New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults. Sterling rhyming, immersive illustrations, action, compassion, and a glow-in-the-dark cover to encourage littlies to turn off the light at bedtime.

Mary de Ruyter, North and South

Told in effortless rhyme, this simple, philosophical story shows us that jellyfish do have their uses, and are not to be taken for granted. Ruth Paul’s illustrations are absolutely gorgeous, using dappled tones, bright colours, and even glow-in-the-dark elements to pop the fish against the background, which heads to absolute black as we dive many fathoms deep. The expressions of the fish are hilarious, particularly the lanternfish, who has the expression of a country yokel in every B-grade Western ever made!

The Sapling's Best New Zealand Picture Books of 2018

The text and illustration in I am Jellyfish perfectly complement each other in this humour-filled tale of small but mighty...This is a book for all the unsung small heroes that will be giggled over and read again and again.

Judges' Report, New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults

This glorious celebration of the jellyfish’s sometimes-forgotten role in the world of the ocean serves as a reminder that it takes all fish to create a harmonious ocean. The colour palette glows in the depths of the ocean, while the rhyme is gentle and clever.

Sarah Forster, The Sapling

An impressive glow-in-the dark cover sets the tone for this luminous book about an unassuming little jellyfish who discovers she holds considerable power within. Jellyfish outwits predatory Swordfish by luring him into the darkest depths of the ocean. But when Swordfish encounters a predator of his own, Jellyfish comes to his aid and teaches him a lesson in the process. As usual, Ruth Paul's rhyming text is great fun to read aloud ("Swordfish slashed, Swordfish sliced, Swordfish dreamed of Jellyfish diced") and her striking illustrations are full of colour, contrast and movement.

Emma Wood, Otago Daily Times

A gorgeous tale, full of alliteration, courage, colour and identity.

Little Treasures

It’s a story that warrants repeated readings, for entertainment and to appreciate the small but mighty hero Jellyfish.

Hannah Taylor-Rose, Magpies

When you buy this book, make sure to take it into a darkened room to admire – the cover is wreathed with glow in the dark jellyfish and a fearsome swordfish’s eye...The illustrations are absolutely gorgeous, using dappled tones and bright colours to pop the fish against the background, which heads to absolute black as we dive many fathoms deep. The expressions of the fish are hilarious, particularly the lanternfish, who has the expression of a country yokel in every B-grade Western ever made! I recommend this for those with curious children, who ask a million why’s and have an interest in what exactly goes on, under the surface of our great oceans.

Sarah Forster, The Reader

Ruth Paul’s colour palette glows against the deep ocean background in this gorgeous, perfectly toned book. There is a lot of space in the sea, but Paul had everything in exactly the right place.

Sarah Forster, The Sapling