The "Official Fish of The 50 States," published by Kaplan Crypto, was created to strengthen each US state's cultural identity by meticulously designing and composing each fish to fit the states' motifs. In this book, you will find designs of all the state fish ever imagined, which are even used to make apparel and accessories for Reefhorse and add to its vast design catalog of aquatic life.
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As you dive deep into the book, we hope you appreciate the diversity of all the fish of the 50 states, feel proud of your state heritage, and learn more about your state and other states of the United States.
"A reference book offers a colorful display of state fish.
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Dedicated to strengthening each “state’s cultural identity” and celebrating “the diversity of all the fish of the 50 states,” this book by editor Yavuz Ugur and illustrator Omer Ugur provides readers with a vibrant array of aquatic creatures. Each page features high-resolution, original artwork that displays an image of the fish alongside a stylized font that highlights the distinctive culture of each state. Louisiana’s page, for instance, features the spotted sea trout along with the state’s iconic fleur-de-lis. Maryland’s distinctive heraldry featured on its state flag is presented alongside its state fish, the striped bass. For states that have two official fish—such as Alabama (largemouth bass and tarpon) and California (Garibaldi and California golden trout)—each one is given its own page. While the book’s eclectic use of a stylized font and vivid colors adds an intriguing visual flair, choices made for some states are not always apparent. Compared to the stars, stripes, and emblems that accompany other states, North Carolina’s generic red and Kentucky’s navy blue stand out in their flatness. And while the book’s illustrations are generally strong, its lack of information leaves much to be desired. Indeed, beyond its basic listing of states and fish names, the work fails to provide any text. Readers interested in learning about some of the more curious creatures (such as Delaware’s weakfish and Utah’s Bonneville cutthroat trout) will have to look elsewhere for more details. Omer Ugur, who has published fish-themed coloring books, offers this work in a coloring book alternative format, which works well with the volume’s oversized font and large fish drawings. Inspired by the award-winning indie board game Freshwater Tank, the work is part of a larger marketing campaign to promote the visually alluring state names and fish designs for merchandise like books, apparel, and various accessories. But the volume’s value as a visually impressive reference book will quickly lose its appeal among readers looking for more substance in learning about each state’s unique aquatic life.
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A visually spectacular, if simplistic, introduction to state fish."
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- Kirkus Reviews