Somewhere in the Ocean

A counting book in rhyme presents various marine animals and their children, from a mother manatee and her little calf one to a mother octopus and her little babies ten. Complete with a glossary, musical score, and numbers hidden in the illustrations.

Kindergarten-Grade 3-Students learn basic facts about a wide variety of marine life as they follow this singsong text, set to the tune of "Over in the Meadow." Clown fish, hermit crabs, tiger sharks, jellyfish, manatees, and sea turtles are just some of the ocean-dwelling creatures that readers meet along the way. While most of the rhymes are catchy, a few are awkward, such as "Somewhere in the ocean where the sea grass grows so even/lived a father sea horse and his wee babies seven-." The vibrantly colored, lively art is sure to hold children's attention. As extra assurance, the numerals are hidden throughout the illustrations. A glossary gives brief information on the plants and marine animals mentioned in the rhymes.
Lisa Gangemi Krapp, Middle Country Public Library, Centereach, NY
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

The nursery rhyme "Over in the Meadow" provides the model for the rhyming text of this picture book, but the habitat is the ocean, and the animal families are sea creatures. The idea works well, though the lines don't always trip easily off the tongue: "`Munch!' said the mothers. / `We munch!' said the five, / so they munched prickly urchins where the kelp forests thrive." Graceful of line and glowing with color, gouache paintings illustrate each quatrain on a double-page spread with a scene of sea life. The book ends with five pages of "Fun Facts" about the animals and their habitat as well as simple piano music and chords for setting the rhyme to music. Useful for teachers requesting picture books about ocean animals. Carolyn Phelan