Soon to be an Apple TV+ series! The ocean is packed with plants, animals, water... and science! Ride the waves of knowledge with Sam and Jade as they explain all about the amazing wonders of the sea, and have a blast doing it. Have you ever wondered why the ocean has waves? Why do the tides change with the moon? Can dolphins really "see" using sound? How does surfing actually work? And what can we do to protect the ocean? Cresting from the pages of the beloved graphic novel series Surfside Girls, join best friends Sam & Jade — and Sam's little brother Peet — as they explore the AWESOME world of ocean science. From physics to marine biology to ecology to surfing lessons, there's so much to learn... with plenty of fun and jokes along the way! The Science of Surfing is the coolest way to take a beach vacation and learn at the same time. Gr 4–6—California wave riders Sam and Jade move from solving ghostly mysteries in two earlier series outings to investigating real-world phenomena, including the physics of tides and waves, techniques of longboard and shortboard surfing, sea bird behavior and anatomy, kelp forest ecology, and ways of being a "good steward" of beaches, oceans, and marine wildlife. Their presentations go deep enough to include, for instance, several finely detailed animal skeletons and the mathematical formula for determining wavelength. The STEM-centric content is awash in banter, jokes ("Why did the chicken cross the ocean?" "To get to the other tide!"), and breezy reflections and enhanced by sunny cartoon panels and free-standing illustrations in which the two lanky young lecturers pose expressively with boards or precisely drawn biological specimens in sandy littoral settings. Lit up by Dwinell's unforced enthusiasm for her topic, this graphic dive into the science of sand and surf will tempt even confirmed land lubbers to catch a wave. Sam is white, while Jade is Asian. VERDICT Likely to make a big splash with middle graders, whether they're headed for the beach or biology class.—John Peters, Children's Literature Consultant, New York “I loved this book! Surfside Girls is exactly what I wish all my summer vacations had been like. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm off to the beach!" —Janet Lee, Eisner-Award-winning artist of Return of the Dapper Men   "Kim Dwinell’s Surfside Girls has a timeless quality. With its likable characters, sunny colors, and supernatural mystery, it’s a perfect summer read." —Brigid Alverson, School Library Journal's Good Comics for Kids   "Kim Dwinell supplies a great-looking world of infinite potential... Anyone fondly remembering the tenacious and good-hearted Nancy Drew adventures from their youth can locate a spiritual successor for their own children in Surfside Girls ." — Slings & Arrows “This fun book contains lots of cool marine biology and oceanography tidbits for budding surfers… and future scientists! Surfing is an amazing way to enjoy the ocean, and the more you know, the better a guest you’ll be to the wonderful creatures that live there.”  — Dr. Christopher G. Lowe, Professor of Marine Biology & Director of the Shark Lab at California State University, Long Beach Kim Dwinell is the author and illustrator of the Surfside Girls graphic novel series. A lifelong surfer and once beach lifeguard, Kim got hired into feature animation after college onto films including Hercules, Mulan, and Tarzan. In addition to making books, she teaches animation and related classes at CSU Long Beach. She lives in sunny Southern California with her family and various pets, and can regularly be found in the ocean there.