Renate Schalk Schreiner’s delightful children’s book, Welcome to Olli’s Undersea World Book II: There is a secret in the Abyss, follows Olli the octopus and his friends as they discover more about the sea. School is out and summer is here. Olli cannot wait to begin his break. He imagines having adventures all by himself. As he swims along on his first adventure, he finds a brood of fry. As Olli inspects the spectacular scene, he almost bumps in Charlie the seahorse who is watching the brood. A conversation follows and Olli gets to help Charlie. Olli continues on many more adventures, some while back at school and others with his guppy friends. From a fascinating scene during a field trip to meeting humans, Olli’s adventures are filled with exciting discoveries.

When reading Welcome to Olli’s Undersea World, I loved that Olli is imaginative and willing to venture out to new places beyond what is familiar to him. Olli inspires young readers to discover new things. The verses in the story are lyrical hence can be read aloud and young readers can easily remember the characters and content of the story. The illustrations are colorful and depict the characters in different scenes. The story is full of entertaining characters from a seahorse having a hard time looking after his brood to human beings seen through the eyes of an octopus and his friends. The book also contains informative information about marine life. Welcome to Olli’s Undersea World Book II by Renate Schalk Schreiner is an amazing children’s book packed with engaging scenes and educative content.

Welcome To Ollie's Undersea World, Book II: There Is a Secret in the Abyss is an animal adventure picture book for children written by Renate Schalk Schreiner. Sometimes, Ollie, a young octopus, just wanted to have some time to himself. He loved his friends and had a great time playing with them, but having some quiet time let him learn more about himself. He was feeling that way when school was over, and summer vacation had begun. While he was swimming by himself, he noticed some very small fry flocking together. Then he saw a seahorse, who appeared to be watching over the fry. Charlie, the seahorse, was at his wits' end trying to keep track of his young charges. It was easier when they were safely tucked away in his pouch, but since they’d been swimming, he definitely needed some help with them. Ollie had an idea that could give Charlie the rest he needed while keeping his young ones safe and entertained.

Renate Schalk Schreiner’s story introduces a young octopus, his friends, and an amazing array of undersea life to young readers. Each of the adventures in this book teaches kids about marine life. There’s a story about turtles and a class trip to the Abyss where an ancient sunken vessel is waiting for them to explore. Schreiner’s book helps give kids a non-human view of the ocean and the creatures living under the waves by having them experience marine life through the charismatic young octopus, Ollie. Each story is both fun and educational, and the illustrations go a long way to giving those tales depth and dimension. Welcome To Ollie's Undersea World, Book II: There Is a Secret in the Abyss is highly recommended.

Olli is an octopus. It’s summer vacation and all Olli wants to do is relax and be on his own – at least for a while. Swimming along the ocean floor, Olli encounters a family of seahorses. Charlie, the seahorse dad, is frantically trying to keep an eye on all the baby seahorses. Olli offers his help and literally comes to the rescue. He uses his eight limbs to give the seahorses a merry-go-round adventure that tuckers them out. Later, Olli meets up with other sea creatures and helps out, all the while learning about each different sea creature. There is the seahorse family, of course, and a turtle as well as Olli’s guppy friends. And, then, Olli learns about humans and the shipwrecks they leave behind on the ocean floor.

Renate Schalk Schreiner’s picture book story, Welcome to Olli’s Undersea World Book II: There is a secret in the Abyss, is a treasure. What a great way for young readers to share a fun story and learn something about sea creatures and life in the ocean. This is the second book in the series and there are more to come, more sea adventures for young people to enjoy. The story is told in rhyming verse which adds to the lyrical quality of the story and it’s beautifully illustrated. As well as teaching young readers about sea life, it also teaches them about the importance of protecting our waterways, our oceans, and the creature that live within. A valuable collection of stories.