Night of the Moonjellies (1992)

Night of the Moonjellies by Mark Shasta (1992) is a true story. It takes place in New London, Connecticut. Most of the story is about a refreshment stand called Mar-Gra’s owned by Shasta’s grandmother and her sister. Marc helps out during a long, busy day at the stand. He is a child, yet so his jobs are filling jars of condiments and straws while grownups prepare hamburger patties, fried clams, and lobster rolls. 

At the end of the day, at the end of the story, Mark and his grandmother “headed out to the dark sea” on friend Tyler’s boat, the Periwinkle. They’re in search of a tiny moonjelly that Mark found on the beach earlier in the day. Tyler knows where the stranded moonjelly belongs. Indeed, “Thousands of moonjellies stretched along the sea in every direction.” In the author’s note at the end of the book, we learn that the scientific name for moonjelly is Ctenophore. “They usually grow no larger than a child’s Riski and in New England are most plentiful in late summer. . . Moonjellies are harmless. They are also bioluminescent, meaning they are able to create light, like fireflies.” 

This book won the Marion VannettRidgway Honor Book Award in 1993. The paintings in this story fill every page with a soft, colorful narrative, appropriately representing the author’s fond memories. 

Come to the Ocean's Edge (2003)

 Come to the Ocean's Edge by Laurence Pringle (2003) is another book that basks in the beauty of the beach. The first page is a foggy dawn. We begin the day with a peek at gentle waves close to shore, larger waves far away, and gulls as shadowy forms flying "like ghosts in the mist." Turn the page and the sun begins to shine. "Sanderlings race a wave up, up on the beach." Soon a few people arrive and explore the tide pools. When families leave at the end of the day, illustrator Michale Chesworth reveals sea life below the ocean's surface. And then, it's a new day. "Once again the cries of gulls, the rhythm of waves, and the scent of sea air call people to the edge of something vast, wild, and mysterious." When I first came upon a book like this one, I was enchanted. Some artists render the multi sensory experience of the ocean so well. Chesworth does fine work with this limited text. To experience the ocean's edge is a gift.

*The Secret World of Walter Anderson (2009)

 *The Secret World of Walter Anderson by Hester Bass (2009) is the story of “the most famous American artist you’ve never heard of.” Walter Anderson was passionate about painting the natural world. He was so passionate that he would row – alone – 12 miles from his home in Ocean Springs, Mississippi  to Horn Island. There he would stay for weeks at a time journaling and painting what he saw. This book is beautifully illustrated by E.B.Lewis. On the cover, we see Anderson rowing out to his favorite island. On island, we see him following hogs to find fresh water, eating whatever in the shade of his upturned skiff, and feeding a wild rabbit. Anderson locked a room in his home to prevent anyone from entering. Upon his death, his widow found the room was wall to wall paintings. There are many youtube videos about Walter Anderson. He is a famous artist I’d never heard of. 

Louie the Buoy (2005)

 Louie the Buoy: A Hurricane Story by Allain C. Andry, III (2005) is an insightful tool for educating readers about Hurricane Camille. They'll also learn about the role of a buoy. We learn that the United States Coast Guard made deep holes in the sand to hold Louie the Buoy firmly in the Bay of St. Louis. (Yes, go get your maps!) Louie the Buoy has a light that flashes at night. It’s on a nautical chart so boat captains know where it is. Unfortunately, Hurricane Camille pulls this proud buoy right out of the sand and tosses it aside. Louie feels he's failed at his job; he's so sorry that he's blown off his post. It turns out he stood his ground a very long time. “There is no reason for you to be ashamed. In fact, because you were the very last buoy to remain standing in this giant hurricane, Louie, you are a hero!” Tazewell S. Morton, III’s brightly colored illustrations depict a bustling seacoast, frightening dark storm, and grateful recovery. 

*Peter's Place (1995)

 *Peter’s Place by Sally Grindley (1995) is a child’s introduction to an oil spill. It’s beautifully illustrated by Michael Foreman. Peter’s place is a shoreline of wind-torn beaches and ravaged cliff faces. “Guillermots, shags, kittiwakes, eider ducks, and long-tailed ducks screeched and squawked and gossiped to one another while in the turbulent ocean below, seals and otters bobbed and weaved and played and feasted on the sea’s riches.” As you can see, this is gorgeous text. The location is lucious, until a storm causes the wreck of a passing oil tanker. The tanker leaks and a “slick blackness was everywhere.” Sealife suffered and died. Rescuers search for damaged wildlife and scrub the sticky slime covering everything in sight. While much of the cleanup is successful, it’s not complete. “For, not far below the surface, little nooks and crannies, between rocks, under the sand, are ugly black scars that can never be washed away.”

*Puffling Patrol (2012)

*Puffling Patrol by Ted and Betsy Lewin (2012) is an astonishingly beautiful book. The authors are both Caldecott winners. It seems to be a nonfiction description of their experience in Iceland learning about pufflings. The illustrations are stunning. The text is for the older elementary school or middle school reader. This story is about young puffins that accidentally fly onto into town instead of out to sea. People on the island save these young birds and toss them into the ocean. There are two pages of “Atlantic Puffin Facts”, Glossary and Pronunciation Guide, a description of “The Volcano of 1973”, and “Vestmannaeyjar’s Puffins Today “ at the back of the book. A few references complete this artistic masterpiece.

*Meadowlands: A Wetlands Survival Story (2011)

Meadowlands: A Wetlands Survival Story by Thomas E. Yezerski (2011) is a true story about the destruction and revival of a tract of land in New Jersey. It’s a written and pictorial history beginning hundreds of years ago. “The Meadowlands was 20,000 acres of marshes, swamps, and bogs that were home to many different plants and animals.” Dutch explorers in 1609 hunted animals for fur and felled the cedar swamps for lumber and farming. This kind of exploitation continued through the 1800’s. Eventually, the Meadowlands became a dumping ground for chemicals, sewage, and garbage. “By the 1960s, there were only 11,000 acres of wetlands left in the Meadowlands.” In 1985, this dropped to 7,000 acres after developers built homes, stores, stadiums, and apartments on the land.

On the bright side, when the dumping stopped, the wetlands began to heal. A wide variety of creatures gradually moved back in. “In July 2007, for the first time in fifty years, a young osprey–a bird of prey–leaped out and took flight from a nest its parents had built in the Meadowlands.”

An author’s note, selected bibliography and websites closes the book. The illustrations in this book are outstanding. This is a story of hope. 

*Welcome to the ICE HOUSE (1998)

*Welcome to the ICE HOUSE is another poetic masterpiece by  Jane Yolen (1998). This book would be boring in the hands of many other writers. The only other author I know who writes this well is Jonathan London. Laura Regan does a nice job of illustrating creatures of the arctic. Jane gives her many creatures to picture on the land and under the sea. “Yet this is not just a landscape of snow, blue sky above, ice below. The Arctic seas are blue and black. Beyond the ice crack swim gray and brown seals: spotted seal, ring seal, and harp.” Delicious writing!! This book belongs in every classroom and every young child’s bookcase. My only other exposure to Jane Yolen is Owl Moon, which I feature here. 

*There's a Sea in My Bedroom (1987)

*There’s a Sea in My Bedroom by Margaret Wild (1987) is a wonderfully imaginative story. Young David fears the sea. When he finds a conch shell and hears the sea inside it, he brings it home. “He felt sorry for the sea. It couldn’t enjoy being trapped inside the shell, he thought. Perhaps he could let it out...just for a short while.” Then David’s imagination takes over. No, it’s not the cliche dream. Maybe that’s what’s so much fun about this story. Pictures by Jane Tanner are perfect.

*Rachel Carson and Her Book That Changed the World (2012)

 *Rachel Carson and Her Book That Changed the World  by Laurie Lawlor (2012) is a must read. From humble beginnings, Rachel Carson’s work ethic earned her full scholarships for college and graduate school. When the culture denied work to women, Carson continued to research and write about the environment. After finally getting work with the Bureau of Fisheries, her writing was so good that her supervisor told her to send it to the Atlantic magazine. Her subsequent writing projects were again stymied by the times. Nevertheless, she worked as a brave biologist for 15 years. She noticed a disturbing trend human destruction of the environment.

In 1951 she published The Sea Around Us. Next came The Edge of the Sea (1955). While battling breast cancer, Rachel Carson took four years to write Silent Spring, which was published in 1962. The Epilogue at the end of the book is both sobering and encouraging. Silent Spring provoked a firestorm. “The chemical industry and several government agencies mounted a vicious, well-funded campaign against Silent Spring...” and Rachel Carson herself. The book was a best seller and inspired grassroots environmental groups to push for federal protections for the environment. In 1972, DDT was banned.

Source notes fill the final page.

May this picture book fill children with confidence as they continue a fight to save the earth. 

Ahoy there, Polar Bear (1988)

Ahoy there, Little Polar Bear by Hans de Beer (1988) is a timeless story. The young polar bear Lars lives with his family at the North Pole. One day he is accidentally caught in a humongous fishing net. On the fishing vessel, he meets a cat named Nemo. Together they arrive at port. When Lars sees the lights of civilization on the evening horizon, he’s excited to visit this new land. “What he found...surprised and disappointed him. Everything was so untidy and dirty.” Nemo guides him off the dangerous streets and introduces him to a group of friendly cats. A cat named Johnny says his ship will leave for the Arctic in the morning, and this is how Lars goes home. This is a story about discovering places beyond home and a story about pollution. It’s also a story for children learning about the fragility of the arctic. 

Our Ocean Home (1997)

Our Ocean Home by Robert Lyn Nelson (1997) is a tour of the ocean given by Honu, a sea turtle. The ocean is home to butterfly fish, monk seals, sting rays, humpback whales, and many more creatures. Nelson’s world famous paintings show scenes above and below the sea. His brightly colored palette is full of light that filters down into the deep blue water and shines on the marine life. Water glistens. Streams, rivers, and waterfalls send clean, fresh water into the ocean. “We all share this world, the ocean creatures and you. We are family.” Listen to Robert Lyn Nelson here. 

Our Ocean Home (1997)

 Our Ocean Home by Robert Lyn Nelson (1997) is narrated by a sea turtle named Honu. This is a large book and I appreciate that the 32 pages are numbered. The illustrations are brightly lit with a nearly neon feel. Tropical fish shine in multiple colors as they “glide through the blue-green, glittering sea” that really does seem to sparkle. Readers  meet monk seals, stingrays, whales, seahorse, dolphins, otters, and more. “In the whole  world there is more ocean than land, and the different oceans touch  each other.” Let this sink in and we feel the interdependence of the underwater community - and avian neighbors - that Honu asks us to keep clean and safe.

Gulls…Gulls…Gulls (1997)

 Gulls…Gulls…Gulls by Gail Gibbons (1997) has some fun alliteration. Page after page, this book is all about these seashore birds, plane simple. I learned that there are 43  different kinds of gulls in the world. The kind I  see is the herring gull. Gibbons’ illustrations fill most of each page and clearly show the  content of the text.There’s physical characteristics, settings and migration, communication, diet (gulls eat just about anything), behavior, and parenting chicks. Gibbons gives special thanks to Stephen Kress research biologist for the National Audubon Society. I bought this paperback at a library sale so I could cut  illustrations out for a collage. But I  liked it so much that I saved it on my personal bookshelf.

Waiting for the Whales (1991)

 Waiting for the Whales by  Sheryl McFarlane (1991) earned  the I.O.D.E. Canadian National Book Award. The beautiful paintings by Ron Lightburn won the Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon Award for Illustration.It was the cover art that made me pick up this book. The pictures, like the cover, are soft yet exact.

The cover hints at the story. First we meet the man, an old man, who lives in a cedar shingled cottage on a bluff by  the sea. His simple, lonely, life, is joyful when the orcas return and swim into view. Several pages in, his daughter and granddaughter move in. He teaches his simple life to his granddaughter as she grows from infant to young girl.

For me, the paintings make this repetitive story relevant. The illustrations invite the reader to pause with each turn of the page, gaze at the pictures, and consequently ponder the narrative. 

Flood Fish (1995)

 Flood Fish by Robyn Eversole (1995) is based on a true event which is explained in an Author’s Note at the back of the book. In the outback of Australia’s Northern Territory, the Finke River floods when the rains come. Fish arrive with the floodwaters, and no one knows where the fish come from. Eversole thanks the Northern Territory Conservation Commission for help with this book. The text is brief, only one or two sentences per page.

Thepaintings by Sheldon Greenberg are lovely. The cover art made me pick up this book. We see the vast, flat landscape and feel the blue water that colors the dry, brown desert. The fish are pictured close up and brightly colored. It’s an introduction to narrative nonfiction for the very young reader.

The Brilliant Deep: Rebuilding the World's Coral Reefs (2018)

 The  Brilliant Deep: Rebuilding the World's Coral Reefs by Kate Messner is a book about Ken Nedimyer.  He loved the ocean as a child. I mean, really loved the ocean. He watched Jacques Cousteau on television, swam amongst coral reefs as a child, and had 30 aquariums in his bedroom. As an adult, he tackled the problem of dying coral reefs by creating coral colonies. "Six small coral colonies...glued onto a limestone surface where a reef had once flourished...Would they grow?" It was an enormous effort carried out by volunteers in the Florida Keys. It was so successful, that Nedimyer worked with other coutries to help their coral reefs flourish. 

I thought this would make a fabulous Picture Book Talk lesson. I guess others did also, because I see seven resources based on this book. That was enough for me to put the book aside. But, honestly, I was unhappy with Matthew Forsythe's illustrations. The limited palette didn't reflect a brilliant deep for me. And they didn't add content to the text. I chose not to spend hours rereading this story and savoring the pictures. 

Snook Alone (2010)

 Snook Alone by Marilyn Nelson  (2010) is about an intelligent, loyal dog stranded on an island when his owner must flee a rapidly approaching tropical storm. Nelson is an award-winning poet, and it’s obvious that she chooses each word of this story with great care. After we learn about Snook’s daily routine in the first half of the book, we watch him adapt to his new island surroundings. A canine sense of smell reveals drinking water. But his keen hearing does not perceive his human friend’s voice in the wind and waves—until near the end, when his memory of  hearing “good dog” fills him with love.

 Timothy Basil Ering’s illustrations add vitality to the text. Snook and his friend, Abba Jacob, appear as devoted comrades. His limited palette and artistic skill effectively depict the emotional extremes of joy and loneliness. The reunion is visually thrilling. 

 The text is not easy; the illustration is fine art; Snook’s longing is intense. These three attributes make this book appropriate for the older student. Nelson and Ering explain their  collaboration at the 2010 National Book Festival.

 Snook Alone is read aloud by Marissa Cilento in two parts: Part 1 and Part 2.

My Picture Book Talk for this story is here. 

The World That We Want (2005)

      Kim Michelle Toft’s The World That We Want is a sparkling visual reference book. It sure looks like she used gold leaf to outline the delicate features of the 45 plants, birds, animals, and aquatic life that literally fill every page of this beautiful book. A glossary identifies and describes the inhabitants of nine different environments: air, rain forest, river, mangrove, beach, tide pool, reef, atoll, and ocean.  The text is a familiar narrative structure. For example, after visiting air, rainforest, river, and mangrove we read “…This is the beach that meets the mangrove that follows the river that weaves through the forest that filters the air that circles the world that we want.” It’s a clever formula for teaching the unity of life in a succinct and effective way.

     This book is read aloud online by Laura Shaver.

     My Picture Book Talk for this story is here. 

A House for Hermit Crab (20010)

Eric Carle has a way with story. So it is with A House for Hermit Crab, a story that merges a simple fact about hermit crabs with a larger lesson--appreciation for ocean inhabitants. When Hermit Crab encounters a group of snails on a rock, we learn that "They grazed as they went, picking up algae and bits of debris, and leaving a neat path behind them." Mr. Carle is world renown for the kaleidoscope of color in his illustrations. This book meets that expectation with fish, sea anemones, starfish and more that live along the ocean floor.