Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Davies follows up Song of the Wild: A First Book of Animals with a collection of more than 50 sea-themed poems. The verses focus on familiar beach activities; "journeys," from ship voyages to migrating whales; life under the sea; and "wonders," such as tide pools and shoals. The poems vary in tone. A serious poem, "Deadliest of All?" calls out "the plastic we throw away/ that strangles, suffocates, and poisons"; in "Happiness," meanwhile, a child is pictured gazing at a warm sunset over the bay: "Sand in my shoes./ Salt in my hair." Sutton's watercolor art offers sweeping, loose lines in cresting waves, sands, and skies, with sharper details in ship masts, sails, and delicate corals. A gentle compendium to read between sea visits. Ages 3-7. (Sept.) c Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 3-This charming poetry collection takes readers on an exploration of the ocean, from a day at the beach to global migration stories. The various poem styles work well to reflect the many perspectives within the book. Sutton's colorful, intricate illustrations enhance an already enjoyable read by providing compelling visuals that represent each poem. The people depicted are diverse in age, race, and gender, and young readers will enjoy imagining themselves swimming in a pod of dolphins or singing a sea shanty. The extra-large foldout of a humpback whale, with instructions on how to sing a humpback's song, will entice kids and adults to try their hand at the calls. -VERDICT This nicely illustrated and enjoyable poetry collection is recommended for most libraries, especially where aquatic life is popular.-Ellen Conlin, Naperville Public Library, IL © Copyright 2018. 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
This oversize collection of more than fifty brief rhyming and free-verse poems about the sea is both observational and interactive: children build sand castles, watch waves, and explore tide pools; boats trawl; divers swim through reefs. Washed with blue hues, the retro watercolor art swells and roils and rolls across spreads, teeming with life and joyful movement. Teachers will appreciate the book's science connections. (c) Copyright 2019. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
Waves, tides, sands, oh my!More than 50 poems, some rhyming and some providing punchy tidbits of information, make up this exuberant collection, which is divided into four themed sections: "Down by the Shore," "Journeys," "Under the Sea," and "Wonders." Each section includes a group of (mostly) short verses that illuminate the delightful experience of being in, under, or near the ocean. The poems shimmer with vivid imagery and sparkling language as they extol carefree activities such as swimming, beachcombing, surfing, building a sand castle, observing sundry aquatic creatures in and out of the water, sailing, and discovering the fun to be had on a pier. Additionally, there are poems about exploring, deriving sustenance and livelihood from the sea, and identifying ships and nautical knots. They're lovely as both read-alouds and pieces to memorize. The lively watercolors drive the poems, and many, together with accompanying poems, expand across two-page spreads. The charming artwork is awash in blue and other magical sea colors and teems with realistic details, movement, and life; note a jaw-dropping gatefold of a humpback whale with instructions on singing a humpback's "song." Sea life is depicted in an amazing variety of forms; humans are shown as diverse in skin tone, hair color, size, and age. As in the sea, there's something in this volume's abundance for most everyone, and it will amply reward repeat visitors, who will benefit from its largesse. (Poetry. 4-8) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
