Ocean lullaby

In this dreamy paean to the ocean's mesmerizing influence, a mother and her baby listen contentedly to the soft sounds of the ocean. As the moon rises, others come to the beach to enjoy the evening. Families settle in to listen to quiet guitar music and the "shhh, hush, shhh, hush" of the ocean's soothing song. Whales keep their little calves close, while turtles drift and doze in the deep blue waters, surrounded by bubbles. Jellies undulate, dolphins float, and mantas glide in the soothing currents. Tucked into their coral beds, fish hide and octopuses dream, while crabs snuggle under rocks, and monk seals lolling on the beach start to snore. On shore, the rising waves spill and reach, spill and reach. The full-bleed double-page spreads done in lush pastels and outlined with bold, black lines echo the soft sensuality of the sea and its nighttime beauty. Seascape and tidewater renderings with realistic details complement the soporific text in a story guaranteed to soothe little ones at bedtime.

The newest collaboration by sisters Kvasnosky and McGee takes readers on an evening stroll to the beach and a dive underwater in the nighttime ocean. The sun sinks toward a distant horizon while a racially diverse group of family and friends sings along at a seaside picnic. Young and old enjoy the music, and a child sits and listens in mother's lap "as they rock to ocean sounds." The sun begins to set, and the mother's words echo the lapping of the waves as she sings a lullaby. "Shhh hush. Shhh hush. We can sing along." Below the waves and under the darkening water, Kvasnosky's lulling verse continues, "the big whales doze," and "turtles float and shut their eyes." Floating peacefully, "dolphins drift and mantas glide / through the rocking, rolling tide." Twilight turns tide pools golden. The encroaching nightfall slows everything down, and baby falls asleep on mother's shoulder. "You, my sweet, my sleepy child, / rest here in my arms awhile. / As the new moon rides the sky, / dream the ocean lullaby." With the crescent moon (not, some will quibble, a new moon) and stars overhead and the waves kissing the beach, she sings to her child. (Both present White.) Soft and rich pastels are emboldened with black outlines, creating a pleasing graphic background for this peaceful, sleepytime poem. (This book was reviewed digitally with 9-by-19-inch double-page spreads viewed at 42.1% of actual size.) A delightful winding-down story after a busy day at the beach--or anywhere. (Picture book. 3-6) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.