New Picture Book Explores Fascinating Stories of World Seas and Coasts

A new children's picture book, "Na moru – život uz obalu" (At Sea – Life Along the Coast), invites young readers on an imaginative journey through the world's seas and coastlines. Published by Naklada Ljevak, the book is a collaboration between German author Judith Homoki and illustrator Martin Haake.

The book delves into the origins of Earth, the adventures of sailors, bustling global ports, exotic islands, and the impact of climate change on marine life. It aims to captivate readers with the enduring mysteries of the ocean, much like the secrets of outer space.

"Na moru – život uz obalu" has already garnered international acclaim, being shortlisted for the "Most Beautiful Books" award in Germany in 2023 by the prestigious Stiftung Buchkunst foundation. The Croatian translation is by Ivan Ott.

Through vivid illustrations and engaging narratives, the book transports readers from the Wadden Sea to Waikiki, and from Brighton to the Great Barrier Reef. It introduces legendary pirates, mythical sea monsters, and diverse coastal communities, offering a rich tapestry of maritime history and culture for the entire family.

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The journey by sea was very uncertain back then. There were no reliable nautical charts and navigation devices. Therefore, captains always tried not to lose sight of the coast and to sail carefully from port to port. They feared that their ship might otherwise be crushed against an invisible reef or sink in a storm. Our ancestors were convinced that something as large, deep, and dark as the sea must be full of terrible creatures. Many sailors also claimed this after their journeys. At home, they boasted of adventures with dreadful beasts. Seeing a whale in the distance, some sailors would invent an attack by a terrible sea monster. While mending sails and repairing ropes on deck, they competed in telling stories about giant sea serpents, many-eyed water pigs, flying dragons, and giant octopuses. Even today, for something exaggerated or invented, people say: 'Those are just sailor's tales.'