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Superpower Field Guide
Eels: A Hilarious Illustrated Guide to the Extraordinary Superpowers of Ocean Creatures for Kids (Ages 8-12)
This fourth installment in the hilarious and highly illustrated full-color Superpower Field Guide series features Olenka, an ordinary eel. Olenka may be slimy, wiggly, and the color of mud, but never, ever underestimate an eel.
Meet Olenka, an ordinary eel. Did I hear you say, “but aren’t eels just long slippery, slimy fishy-things that . . . hmm . . . . Is there anything else to know about eels?” You bet your buttons there is!
Sit back and hold on tight because Olenka is going to amaze you with superpowers such as double invisibility, shape-shifting, and supersecret Lair of the Abyss (that means a top-secret deep-sea hideout). In fact, Olenka’s life is so impossibly extraordinary, it has baffled the smartest scientists in the world for thousands of years.
“Impossible!” you say. I say, you don’t know eels. But you will.
Includes a ruler printed along the book’s back side to aid the observations of young field scientists everywhere!
Meet Olenka, an ordinary eel. Did I hear you say, “but aren’t eels just long slippery, slimy fishy-things that . . . hmm . . . . Is there anything else to know about eels?” You bet your buttons there is!
Sit back and hold on tight because Olenka is going to amaze you with superpowers such as double invisibility, shape-shifting, and supersecret Lair of the Abyss (that means a top-secret deep-sea hideout). In fact, Olenka’s life is so impossibly extraordinary, it has baffled the smartest scientists in the world for thousands of years.
“Impossible!” you say. I say, you don’t know eels. But you will.
Includes a ruler printed along the book’s back side to aid the observations of young field scientists everywhere!
96 pages, Paperback
Published June 23, 2020
2 people are currently reading
50 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
December 22, 2020
While just as entertaining as other titles in the series, this title feels harder. Poliquin's explanation of a big mystery is conceptually more difficult. Scientists have never actually seen a European eel spawn in the wild. They haven't seen eggs or anything. Poliquin spends a good chunk of the book describing how researchers have spent decades perplexed by this mystery and even more time figuring out that all eels spawn in the Sargasso Sea - thousands of miles from where they spend most of their life. While I might recommend "Beavers" and "Moles" for savvy 2nd grade readers and higher. "Eels" might be better for 4th and up. THIS BOOK IS STILL AMAZING!!!
This is the third in the series that I have read. Please SEE REVIEWS of the Superpower Fieldds Guides for "Beavers" & "Moles" for MORE INFO ON POLIQUIN & FRITH'S BRILLIANCE.
This is the third in the series that I have read. Please SEE REVIEWS of the Superpower Fieldds Guides for "Beavers" & "Moles" for MORE INFO ON POLIQUIN & FRITH'S BRILLIANCE.
December 11, 2020
Another wonderful addition to this series! I learned so much about eels, I had no idea that they were so mysterious and for so long we knew nothing about where they came from. I now want to do more research and learn even more about this amazing and mysterious creatures.
September 7, 2020
A look at eels, their attributes and habitats. And how scientists uncovered some of the mysteries of fresh water eels while also challenging future scientists with mysteries that still elude us.
I never knew how fascinating or mysterious freshwater eels were!?! And I taught Biology and AP Bio for several years. It seems mind-boggling that we still have no clue where exactly they breed or where the babies hatch. And the distances they travel are astounding! I know eels are slimy and gross, but trust me, you want to read this. If you like strange stories, unsolved mysteries, and mind-boggling facts, pick this up. Oh, and curious kids will devour it too. Hands down my favorite book in this series. Poliquin and Frith have knocked it out of the park with fabulous writing and illustrating. I'm quite confidant this is going to make it to my Top 10s of 2020 lists.
I never knew how fascinating or mysterious freshwater eels were!?! And I taught Biology and AP Bio for several years. It seems mind-boggling that we still have no clue where exactly they breed or where the babies hatch. And the distances they travel are astounding! I know eels are slimy and gross, but trust me, you want to read this. If you like strange stories, unsolved mysteries, and mind-boggling facts, pick this up. Oh, and curious kids will devour it too. Hands down my favorite book in this series. Poliquin and Frith have knocked it out of the park with fabulous writing and illustrating. I'm quite confidant this is going to make it to my Top 10s of 2020 lists.
March 23, 2020
This field guide is a fabulous resource for tweens and younger teens. Illustrations and interesting tidbits abound. The writing is a bit campy and tries a little too hard, but the facts speak for themselves. This guide could turn even someone with a fear of snakes on to the cool abilities of nature's exciting eel.
The summary is a bit cringey, so I'm hoping they change that too, as it doesn't do service to a pretty well-constructed work.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance electronic copy in exchange for my honest review.
The summary is a bit cringey, so I'm hoping they change that too, as it doesn't do service to a pretty well-constructed work.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance electronic copy in exchange for my honest review.
October 6, 2020
Rachel Poliquin is able to make the most mundane animals into your favorite. No one would expect an eel to contain such mystery, but did you know that eels have oxygen skin, slimetastic safety shields, double invisibility, globe-spanning grit, ocean stealth submarine mode, four-nostriled navigation, magnetic heads, and a super-secret lair? Neither did I! Amazing facts and entertainment! Love the humor. Love the style!
September 10, 2020
This was my first book by this fabulous non-fiction author and I can't wait to get my hands on her other books! This was a fascinating and fun look at the wild, mysterious world of eels. Between the illustrations and creativity of the writing, it will draw even the most reluctant reader in.
September 17, 2020
This might be my favorite one yet. Olenka the European Eel truly shines as a superpowered animal. Lots of details about the eel itself, plus a little bit about how endangered they are.
Overall great series, but this one is a must-read for those interested in the natural world.
Overall great series, but this one is a must-read for those interested in the natural world.
June 12, 2020
Eels by Rachel Poliquin; Nicholas John Frith is a children's nonfiction book currently scheduled for release on June 23 2020. Meet Olenka, an ordinary eel. Did I hear you say, “But aren’t eels just long slippery slimy fishy-things that . . . hmm. Is there anything else to know about eels?” You bet your buttons there is! Sit back and hold on tight, because Olenka is going to amaze you with superpowers such as double invisibility and shape-shifting, and the super secret Lair of the Abyss (that means a top-secret deep-sea hideout). In fact, Olenka's life is so impossibly extraordinary, it has baffled the smartest scientists in the world for thousands of years.
Eels is a book with a lively blend of information, narrative, illustration, and science. I never thought much about eels, and thought I knew everything that I needed to. Well, this book proved me wrong very quickly. I enjoyed learning about the strange skills of the eel, and how they change to move and survive. I thought the humor, interesting facts, and illustrations kept the text from feeling too dense, while I still learned a great deal. I am very glad that I requested this from Netgalley, and I think my daughter would love to add this book to our home collection. I really like the inclusion of a glossary and resources for further research, which includes books for adults and websites. This is the forth book in a series about animals and their unique skills. I have not yet read the others, but after this I think I will.
Eels is an informative and entertaining read that I never knew I wanted. I think it will appeal to a wide range of readers and would be a great addition to libraries and school collections.
Eels is a book with a lively blend of information, narrative, illustration, and science. I never thought much about eels, and thought I knew everything that I needed to. Well, this book proved me wrong very quickly. I enjoyed learning about the strange skills of the eel, and how they change to move and survive. I thought the humor, interesting facts, and illustrations kept the text from feeling too dense, while I still learned a great deal. I am very glad that I requested this from Netgalley, and I think my daughter would love to add this book to our home collection. I really like the inclusion of a glossary and resources for further research, which includes books for adults and websites. This is the forth book in a series about animals and their unique skills. I have not yet read the others, but after this I think I will.
Eels is an informative and entertaining read that I never knew I wanted. I think it will appeal to a wide range of readers and would be a great addition to libraries and school collections.
January 19, 2026
If you actually want to learn about animals and other subjects, you got to turn to children's non-fiction (I learned more about eels in this book than its adult audience counterpart, The Book of Eels). Eels is a wonderful source of information that is plainly laid out. The illustrations explained the Sargasso sea currents and what makes them unique (plus the changing ocean ridges) very well, as well as the eels' life cycles. Plus, what makes eels uniquely eels vs fish.The love and enthusiasm for eels is palpable and I learned a lot about them thanks to Rachel Poliquin.
April 24, 2022
I adore Rachel Poliquin's writing style, which brings you in on an incredible journey from page 1. The Superpower Field Guide book series is part comic book superhero adventure, part scientific research study, and part middle grade series about a beloved character. In this case, Olenka the Eel. I love eels because they're weird and wonderful and underloved, and here we get a highly engaging tale that showcases all of those qualities and more.
November 26, 2022
I’ve been reading books from this series because my students chose them for book clubs. I was particularly dreading this one, because, well, who wants to read about eels? I do, as it turns out. So fascinating.
May 6, 2024
So many fun facts and so easy to digest. This nonfiction masterpiece was perfectly executed and could be easily digested by young and older readers alike. I look forward to reading others in the series.
January 1, 2021
Does it again. Who knew eels were so fascinating?! Nature is amazing!
February 19, 2021
Another entertaining and informative entry into this great animal series.
April 9, 2021
Who knew eels were so mysterious and cool?
November 4, 2021
Wow, never knew eels were so interesting and critically endangered! Fun read-aloud with kids
March 4, 2023
This might be the best book on eels I have read (and I have read a few)! The kids really enjoyed this too, and I keep being amazed by this eel mystery... This world is just so amazing!
January 5, 2025
Wow eels are cool
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews