Review by Booklist Review
PreS-Gr. 2. This well-written, nonfiction picture book introduces the variety of baby creatures in the ocean, pointing out how they differ and what they have in common. The text establishes an amiable tone, sometimes addressing children directly and sometimes simply presenting information. Every short line or phrase in the picture-book section of the book is reinforced in the three-page appendix, where each one is repeated, accompanied by a postage stamp-size illustration and expanded by a paragraph of thoughtful, informative text. Nakata's cheerful watercolor paintings clearly illustrate the book's ideas while creating a beautiful undersea setting, bright with colors, teeming with varied creatures, and studded with intriguing details. Many books present information in this format, but few manage to stay as focused on the topic and sensitive to the intended audience as this one. --Carolyn Phelan Copyright 2005 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Roscoe (Into the A, B, Sea) and Nakata (Tell Me My Story, Mama) gracefully blend verit? with impressionism as they literally immerse readers in the concept of the ocean as nursery. Roscoe's text takes on a gentle, rocking tone as she compares and contrasts the many kinds of aquatic offspring. For a series of spreads that uses a sea lion pup, a host of red crabs, dolphins and sea horses as examples, she writes, "One by one, and in huge bunches,/ they wriggle and spurt from their mother's body-/ or their father's!" The lightheartedness and luminescent colors of Nakata's artwork synchronize swimmingly with the mood of the text-whatever she paints seems to dance on the page. Like Roscoe, Nakata doesn't overly anthropomorphize the babies and their families, but their smiles are readily recognizable (the sockeye salmon's toothy grin is a hoot), and she demonstrates that hanging out with Mom (or Dad, in the case of the sea horse) is a universal joy. Four pages of notes provide a short, informative addendum to the text (the exegesis of the line "Some change homes like you change clothes" discusses hermit crabs and their symbiotic relationship to the anemones that "decorate" their appropriated shells). Those for whom babyhood is not such a distant memory will want to dive in many times. Ages 4-8. (May) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 1-This gorgeous picture book is perfect for sharing the wonders of marine life with young children. Through simple, poetic text, Rose highlights the variety of creatures found in the sea: "Big as a bus" (a blue whale calve) "and smaller than seeds" (the offspring of a coral reef), "billions of babies are born to the ocean." The narrative goes on to describe, in very basic terms, the various ways in which these animals are born and learn to swim, what they eat, and how they live, all accompanied by Nakata's fluid watercolors. The last four pages offer thumbnails of the earlier illustrations, along with more detailed information about the species portrayed. This book beautifully captures the magic of the ocean world and will work equally well in storytime, in the classroom, or for one-on-one sharing.-Kathleen Kelly MacMillan, Maryland School for the Deaf, Columbia (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
In a basic but effective introduction to animal babies in a marine environment, this book contrasts traits of different species, for example, ""Some change homes like you change clothes."" A picture glossary provides details about the general statements made in the body of the book. Text and art synchronize well, although some of the watercolors are too impressionistic to be helpful. (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
A beautiful peek at the marine circle of life. Large spare text layered over simply rendered watercolors highlight the diversity of animal life found in the sea. "Big as a bus, and smaller than seeds," the opposites found among ocean animals present themselves: single or multiple births, born live or oviparous, traveling to find food or waiting for food to come along. The use of familiar vocabulary and comparisons brings it all to the level of a young child. The last four pages offer a paragraph of information about each featured animal next to a thumbnail reproduced from the corresponding text. This format will provide adults with the knowledge needed to answer questions about the animals, but is not conducive to reading aloud. Nakata's artwork perfectly fits the text: Soft colors and muted details have the reader seemingly looking through the water at the animals. A touching look at birth and perfect for reminiscing about the births of loved ones. (resource list) (Picture book. 3-7) Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
