Seven, John. The Ocean Story.

Seven, John. The Ocean Story.   

Picture Window Books(Capstone)      2011  np    16.99   978-1-4048-6785-7 

elem       Misc.       E-BNe 

This book describes how water returns to the ocean after

cycling through its many uses, it shows creatures of

the ocean in their many colors and antics and it teaches children what can go

wrong if we don’t protect this treasure.  Just the perfect combination of

text and art work have produced a book that should be a mandatory read-aloud for

all elementary school classrooms.  The story of the ocean is presented simply

yet poetically, with pictures that share this very same characterization.  In

this case, a collaborative effort of a husband and wife team ended when this

educational gem went to print, and without sounding too preachy, this team shows

children (and adults!) the composition of the ocean and the need to protect it. 

The story  begins when a child asks his grandfather why the ocean is so big, and

when Grandfathers responds that it needs to be big to hold all of its history,

the reader embarks on a story of a different kind of circle of life, this time,

describing the cyclical nature of water and how it ends up in the ocean.  This

might sound complicated, but the author utilizes words that children of all ages

can understand.  A young audience will find something to discuss as sure as a

parent or teacher will find something new to point out with every turn of the

page.  The artistry is enchanting, and the author and illustrator combine their

talents to show children how to combine poetry and illustrations.  When author

John Seven shows jellyfish that “look like dreams floating into space,” the

reader actually sees jellyfish looking just as he describes!  The Ocean Story

accomplishes what all children’s books should accomplish.

            Squaresky, Martha