The Sea Knows

March 1, 2020
An introduction to the sea and some of the creatures that inhabit it. Using the concepts of "sea" and "ocean" interchangeably, the book presents the ocean world in short rhythmic sentences that anthropomorphize it: "We are young. The sea is old. / The sea has secrets to unfold. / The sea knows." Dynamic, colorful, semirealistic illustrations accompany the text. As the book progresses, readers find out what the sea knows: "The sea knows huge." "The sea knows short." "The sea knows bold." "The sea knows bright." "The sea knows wind, and waves that tower." Sacrificing information for form, the evocative text provides no information alongside the illustrations to expand on these statements. For that, readers must rely on the backmatter. Since the intended audience is presumably not one familiar with marine life but rather one only just learning about it, reading the book becomes a cumbersome exercise of flipping back and forth between illustrations and backmatter. By doing this, readers find out "huge" is the blue whale; "short" are flat-topped crabs; "bold" are the clownfish that live among poisonous anemones; and "bright" is the luminescent comb jelly. The book has alluring illustrations and well-researched, interesting, and age-appropriate information; it is a pity the two were kept apart. An imperfect yet captivating introduction to the ocean habitat. (Informational picture book. 4-8)

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April 1, 2020

PreS-Gr 2-Take a tour of the underwater world in this visual introduction to the sea. Readers will be swept away by a colorful school of fish and will have a front-row seat as a blue whale scoops up a mouthful of krill. McGinty introduces a variety of ecosystems and plant life, as well as many fascinating creatures. The most effective feature of this book is the digital illustrations that showcase the variety and complexity of ocean life. Through careful use of color, the author and illustrator spotlight a world that sometimes appears peaceful and small, and at other times seems volatile and untamed. The pages will be turned with ease, following the rhythm of tightly crafted couplets. However, this text is not overly informative. Although back matter provides basic information, most young readers will struggle to make the connection between the illustrations and information. VERDICT A solid selection for nature/science-themed storytime or as a springboard for future investigation.-Louie Lauer, Jefferson Elementary School, Fargo, ND

Copyright 2020 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

April 15, 2020
Preschool-G What does the sea know? Quite a bit, according to this well-crafted picture book. The rhythmic verse text begins with a series of opposites, such as The sea knows huge. / The sea knows small. / The sea knows short. / The sea knows tall. The text gradually moves away from contrasts and toward concepts with shared properties. Finally, a sequence of dynamic events builds up to a dramatic storm before resolving fittingly with The sea knows when / the storms should cease. / The sea knows calm. / The sea knows peace. Visually, the book begins with people standing on a pier and observing the ocean, shifts to a series of underwater scenes, and then draws back again to watch the storm arrive and recede. Full of movement, grace, and intriguing details, the digital artwork illustrates the text beautifully. An informative appended section elaborates on sea creatures and phenomena mentioned in the verse. The writing flows well, making this picture book a pleasure to read aloud and a natural for classroom units on the sea.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2020, American Library Association.)