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OCEANS! by Karen Fulkerson

OCEANS!

A Kayful Books Seek-and-Find Adventure

From the Science Series series, volume 1

by Karen Fulkerson ; illustrated by Gus Morais

Pub Date: Oct. 20th, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-947486-12-6
Publisher: Eaton Press

A debut picture book focuses on science facts and ocean preservation.

Humans and sea creatures of all types fill these densely illustrated pages, introduced through Fulkerson’s rhythmic, rhyming text. The intent of this educational seek-and-find series opener is clear from the first two-page spread. When it comes to oceans, “there isn’t a way for us to measure their beauty and their worth.” The author makes use of ocean vocabulary (“krill,” “mollusks,” “grouper,” “anemones”) throughout, seeding the more difficult words within the context of familiar ones. The text and the activities at the end, including complex writing exercises and a bonus literary seek-and-find, seem geared toward independent readers, who may pick up some new non-ocean vocabulary words as well (“churn,” “unjust”). Debut illustrator Morais works many visual jokes into the playful images of sea creatures and diverse humans featured here. Some of the pictures tie in less closely to the text than others—rhymes on the types of animals found in the ocean are accompanied by a pirate shipwreck. But all are peppered with so many things to discover, children won’t mind. Hidden words on each page form an environmental message for readers to unscramble, and a helpful list of concealed creatures identifies many species depicted in the illustrations.

An eye-pleasing seek-and-find tale sure to entertain budding environmentalists.

(quiz, facts, activities)