Here lies a vast and azure underwater world. This beautiful ocean needs a “King of the Sea” to rule over it.
A king must be chosen—one who understands the ocean best and loves it most. But who is the most suitable candidate? Is it the sea turtle, committed to creating a comfortable ocean? The shark, determined to build a powerful ocean? Or the flower crab, resolved to foster a clean ocean? Alas, after looking again and again, it’s hard to decide who should become the King of the Sea. Can we really find the perfect King of the Sea?

“Who Will Be the Next King of the Sea?” is a picture book that tells the story of marine creatures embarking on a special journey to find a new king. Yet, when you think about it more closely, this premise is somewhat unusual. After all, when we typically think of a “king,” we tend to picture a ruler in a monarchy who is born into a position of authority. In this ocean, however, no one is born with the destiny of becoming king. What matters here is the support and consensus of the marine community—those who live together in harmony. In this society, the king is not someone with an innate claim to power; rather, the king is the representative of the ocean who understands the sea better than anyone and cherishes it most deeply.

As the story unfolds and the characters meet one after another—each of them a self-nominated candidate for the throne—we are drawn into a series of questions, each shining with its own unique light. There’s the sea turtle, who pledges to create a comfortable ocean; the flower crab, determined to keep the sea clean; the shark, dreaming of building a powerful maritime kingdom; and even the clownfish, who wants to make the ocean a vibrant, colorful paradise. The voices of these marine candidates are strikingly diverse, and each presents what it believes to be the most important promise for the future of the ocean. But what truly matters most to the ocean itself?

“Who Will Be the Next King of the Sea?” reveals that there is something even more essential than a clean ocean, a powerful ocean, or a beautiful ocean—and this message is conveyed through a voice that may seem small and fragile at first. To become the king of the sea, you don’t need extraordinary qualifications; all you need is a sincere heart. It is the deep love for the ocean, and the resolute voice that springs from that love, that carries the power to honor the world as it is. This realization invites us to see a world that requires no artificial embellishment—a world that is already beautiful and precious in its own right.

The ocean is home to an astonishing diversity of life. What makes the ocean truly the ocean is the fact that every living creature within it shines in its own way, occupying its unique place in this vast ecosystem. In “Who Will Be the Next King of the Sea?,” this radiant diversity is brought to life through vivid imagery as the story takes readers on a wide-ranging, deep-sea voyage. Beginning with the deep blue of the ocean, the illustrations unfold page by page, with larger and smaller marine creatures gradually appearing in the composition. Unexpected bursts of color infuse the scenes with a lively, rhythmic energy, inviting readers to turn each page with a sense of natural anticipation, wondering which new friend they will encounter next. Despite the seemingly expansive structure of the book, the carefully placed “surprise friends” along the way reveal the author’s playful and imaginative vision. By experiencing the ocean from multiple perspectives and encountering the myriad landscapes it holds, the reader not only enjoys a feast for the eyes but also expands the horizons of their imagination. Through the lens of the ocean and the lives that coexist within it, we are invited to reflect on our own world—and to imagine how we might build a harmonious, thriving community here on land as well.

Jera

Is passionate about weaving stories and creating illustrations. She wants to say to Luha and Haru: “As you grow so vigorously, you are what make this world what it is.” She created and illustrated “Pū Bang Pēng” and “I’m Not That Kind of Cat!”