The Sea

Children's Literature

This is a small gem of a book from a gem of a series—"Starters"—that offers very young readers an introduction to subjects in which children are interested. The colorful volume is a great size for a child's hands, with colorful pages and striking photograph illustrations. It covers, with brief, spare language, a day at the beach, oceans of the world, tides, magical creatures that live in the sea, such as sea stars, jellies, coral reef fish and sea slugs, animals designed for swimming such as seals, squid and barracuda and how mammals and fish breathe. The book discusses finding and catching food for animals and humans, then features ships and boats and exploring the seabed. A very simple glossary is included. This would be a great book for handing to an early reader, or—why wait?—read it aloud or look at it with a very young non-reader. 2003, Hodder Children's Books/Smart Apple Media, Ages 2 to 6.
—Judy Crowder