OCEAN SPEAKS by Jess Keating & Katie Hickey
HARDCOVER
Author: Jess Keating
Illustrator: Katie Hickey
Inspiring, powerful, and beautifully told, Ocean Speaks is a striking picture book biography that brings the remarkable story of pioneering scientist Marie Tharp to young readers.
From an early age, Marie loved observing the world, solving problems, and asking big questions - even when those questions led her somewhere girls weren’t expected to go. In the mid-twentieth century, science was largely closed to women, but Marie persisted. She earned a place at a New York laboratory, only to face another barrier: women were not allowed on research ships.
So Marie did something extraordinary. Staying behind, she immersed herself in data - mapping point after point, line after line - until a hidden truth emerged. From her small office, Marie revealed a massive rift valley running through the ocean floor: the mid-ocean ridge, the largest geographic feature on Earth. Though her discovery was doubted at first, the evidence spoke for itself - and the ocean, at last, was heard.
Written by Jess Keating and illustrated by Katie Hickey, Ocean Speaks celebrates curiosity, perseverance, and the courage to trust your work — even when no one else does. Why children (and grown-ups) would love it on there bookshelf:
- An empowering real-life story of a trailblazing woman in science
- Clear, engaging storytelling that makes complex ideas accessible
- Atmospheric illustrations that echo the mystery of the deep ocean
- Encourages curiosity, resilience, and belief in your own voice
Perfect for classrooms, STEM collections, and readers who love true stories of discovery, Ocean Speaks is a stirring reminder that careful listening - and persistence - can change how we understand the world.