Ocean! Waves for All

by Stacy McAnulty, David Litchfield (Illustrator)

Overview

From writer Stacy McAnulty and illustrator David Litchfield, Ocean! Waves for All is a light-hearted nonfiction picture book about the formation and history of the ocean, told from the perspective of the ocean itself.

Dude. Ocean is incredible. Atlantic, Pacific, Artic, Indian, Southern—it's all excellent Ocean! Not part of any nation, his waves are for all. And under those waves, man, he holds so many secrets. With characteristic humor and charm, Stacy McAnulty channels the voice of Ocean in this next "autobiography" in the Our Universe series. Rich with kid-friendly facts and beautifully brought to life by David Litchfield, this is an equally charming and irresistible companion to Earth! My First 4.54 Billion Years; Sun! One in a Billion; and Moon! Earth's Best Friend.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781250108098
Publisher:	Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)
Publication date:	05/05/2020
Series:	Our Universe , #4
Pages:	40
Product dimensions:	10.20(w) x 10.10(h) x 0.40(d)
Lexile:	AD440L (what's this?)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Stacy McAnulty is the author of many books for children, notably the nonfiction picture book series Our Universe, which includes titles, Earth! My First 4.54 Billion Years, Mars! Earthlings Welcome, and Moon! Earth's Best Friend, among others. She's also the author of picture books Brains! Not Just a Zombie Snack, A Small Kindness, Beautiful, Brave, and Love, and she writes books for middle grade readers including The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl and Millionaires for the Month. Stacy lives in North Carolina with her family and as many dogs as she can sneak in the house.

David Litchfield is the author-illustrator of the award-winning The Bear and the Piano, as well as the illustrator of numerous picture books, including Miss Muffet, or What Came After by Marilyn Singer. He lives in Bedfordshire in the United Kingdom.

Editorial Reviews

"Spreads teem with ocean life painted in warm, bright colors . . . A pleasant dive into deep waters." —Kirkus Reviews on Ocean! Waves for All

"The creators of Earth! My First 4.54 Billion Years (2017) return with an autobiographical introduction to Ocean . . . a worthy addition to the Our Universe series, as well as an entertaining introduction to this topic." —Booklist on Ocean! Waves for All

From the Publisher

06/01/2020

Gr 1–2—This nonfiction title, the fourth in the series, is narrated by the ocean itself and contains kid-friendly facts. Ocean introduces himself as an Earth-loving dude, interested in helping youngsters learn more about his long life. He explains that he has been around for four billion years and that life began in his waters. He shares some records: Ocean is home to the biggest animal, the longest mountain range, and the largest living structure. But he wants people to get to know him better and to explore his secrets. He also wants his readers to know that some human behavior is impacting him and the creatures that inhabit his waters. The illustrations are brightly colored, and the personification of the ocean will appeal to young readers as they eagerly search for his face on each page. End pages contain extensive information and eco-friendly suggestions to take care of the oceans. VERDICT An engaging introduction to the ocean that children will enjoy looking through more than once.—Annette Herbert, F.E. Smith Elem. Sch., Cortland, NY

School Library Journal

2020-03-15
Explore ocean basics in illustrated storybook format.

Ocean narrates and is represented by two large, cheerful blue eyes, a crescent-moon mouth, and disembodied, impossibly elastic arms. Facts are shared conversationally, with vocabulary such as “dude,” “stoked,” and “chaa.” The sentences gather and bend with illustrations, set in contrasting type that occasionally changes color to balance color schemes or emphasize key concepts. Information about the ocean’s layers and marine features are presented with concise language and loads of visual interest. Double-page spreads teem with ocean life painted in warm, bright colors. A map serves as illustration when Ocean talks about land arriving—grown-ups may need to clarify that Earth’s continents were not always in this current state. Ocean waits until readers are all drawn in and enjoying the wonders to reveal problems like trash islands and ice melt. Consumer-level actions for ocean advocacy are included in the aftermatter, but solutions and action are not discussed in the primary text. A handful of unnamed human characters have diverse skin tones and homogenous body types. Conceptualizing one ocean instead of four nods to global accountability while also allowing for character development.

A pleasant dive into deep waters. (author’s note, bibliography) (Informational picture book. 5-8)

Kirkus Reviews