My Ocean Is Blue

Starred review from February 1, 2020

K-Gr 2-From moment to moment, the ocean is constantly changing and shifting; it is at once recognizable and never the same. One sunny morning, a little girl and her mother make their way down the boardwalk to spend the day at the beach. As the day progresses, the mother and daughter explore the many sensations at the seashore: from textured sand and slimy seaweed to the unique smells and sounds. After a long day of discovery, it is time to go home, leaving them to wonder what the ocean will be like tomorrow. This primarily visual story is told with the help of only a few sentences, presented in a lyrical style. Each image resonates with many sensory experiences. The illustrations are a combination of collage style and visible brush strokes, representing the textures of the ocean. The little girl is shown walking with crutches in several of the images. VERDICT Ocean lovers of all ages will appreciate the vivid colors and beautiful text that recounts a lovely and relaxing day by the sea.-Mary Lanni, formerly at Denver Public Library

Copyright 2020 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 15, 2020
A companion to Lebeuf and Barron's previous outing, My Forest is Green (2019). A young tot with short blond hair, pale skin, and a wondrous fascination with the ocean looks forward to spending the day at the beach. Incidental to the text but prominent in the illustrations, the child also uses forearm crutches. Cut paper that's been textured with watercolor, acrylic, and pencil crayon creates the scenes of pebbled sand, frothy waves, and quiet tide pools. The child sees the ocean as a multitude of opposites. Sometimes it is "big" (with a vast, endless horizon), and sometimes it is "small" (a tiny hermit crab pokes out its head). Sometimes it is "dry" (a large piece of driftwood), and sometimes it is "wet" (a splashing water fight). Lebeuf gradually builds to more lyrical phrases. Sea gulls, whales, and dolphins playfully cavort while a motorboat slides by: "My ocean splashes and crashes / and echoes and squawks. // My ocean laughs and hums." The real delight, besides the intentional focus on detailed observations, is the ease with which the child's disability is slipped into the illustrations. At times, the crutches are laid aside, showing the tot swimming, kneeling, or playing in the sand. Any possible preconceived limitations are dashed--instead, childlike wonder and curiosity shine. A joyful marine romp. (Picture book. 3-6)

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December 15, 2019
Preschool-G This is my ocean, says a girl, as she and her mother walk down to the beach. Throughout the day, she shares her observations in brief sentences that include one or two descriptors, often setting up contrasts that are clarified in the artwork. Illustrating My ocean is shallow, a picture shows seabirds walking through waves retreating along the strand, while in My ocean is deep, the child leaps from a dock into the water. Her ocean is also dry (driftwood) and wet (splashes). Its colors include "vibrant pink" (starfish), "rusted orange" (anchor), and "polished green" (sea glass), but mostly it's blue. From her sense of connection to her eagerness to share what she loves, the girl's narrative creates an inviting portrayal of the seashore. In the pictures, she uses crutches when walking, but she manages without one or both when she's skipping stones or playing in the sand. The illustrations, created using cut-paper collage, watercolors, acrylics, pencil crayons, and digital assembly, capture the beach experience with clarity. An enjoyable companion book to My Forest Is Green (2019).(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)