Sea Watch

Children's Literature - Uma Krishnaswami

Poems of the sea inhabit this slim volume as naturally as the denizens of the deep inhabit it. Each poem is about one species, and the collection, remarkably, brings the beauty of diverse watery habitats right into the reader's consciousness. The poems beg to be read aloud. My favorite was "The Crab," skittering sideways into the patient calculations of the sea. Yolen's mastery of words is here, as are Ted Lewin's effervescent images of oceans and bays and tidal pools.

School Library Journal

Gr 2 UpAnother collaborative effort by this talented author and artist. Yolen, as she did so successfully in Bird Watch (Philomel, 1990), incorporates many of the characteristics of the animals seamlessly into the 14 selections. The poetry is spare and often dramatic with well-chosen words and carefully crafted phrases that bring each marine creature to life. The salmon is a "Bear teaser,/ falls jumper,/ autumn star." The octopus's eight arms are the main focus of its eight-line poem. An anemone, a beluga, a seahorse, and an Portuguese man-of-war are among the other featured subjects. Lewin's illustrations complement the text perfectly. The shark seems to lunge from the side of the page, monstrous mouth opening to show his teeth while, beneath him, the words describe "the bear-trap jaw,/ the teeth,/ another five sets set/ beneath the gum." The vivid colors have a wide- ranging palette that results in a sometime startling combination of colors that merits a second look. The crab's legs are deep rose scuttling toward a violet shore and the seahorse clings to electric yellow grasses waving against a pale aqua background. The black depths of the night sea are portrayed along with the cool blues of tropical waters and each animal swims through it with almost photographic accuracy. The book ends with a page of notes about each creature. A beautiful collection.Jane Marino, Scarsdale Public Library, NY

Lauren Peterson

nger for reading aloud. The pair that produced the highly acclaimed "Bird Watch" (1990) team up again in this equally attractive collection of 14 melodic poems. Lewin's trademark watercolors, fresh, realistic, and beautifully rendered, nicely complement the poetry, which is interspersed with intriguing, sometimes little-known facts about the habits and characteristics of various exotic sea creatures. Yolen's lyrical language is beautiful, but occasional abstractions may confuse children who lack the background knowledge necessary to decipher obscure references, such as "Like the "Argo" of old, / A boat well-held / By the sailors' arms." The "Sea Watch Notes" at the end of the book will help. They are crucial to understanding the content of many of the poems, but most children will also need an adult's help to get the most from their reading.