A Day in the Salt Marsh

September 1, 2007
K-Gr 3-Through rhyming text, Kurtz introduces a salt marsh and its plant and animal inhabitants. Beginning at sunrise, the verses present an hour-by-hour look at the activities of various creatures and changes in the tide: "It's twelve o'clock in the salt marsh;/the tide is rising fast./A grey fin breaks the water/as a dolphin swims right past!" Each spread offers a background view of the marsh along with two smaller inset illustrations: a close-up of the flora and fauna being described and a bird's-eye representation of the scene. Activities and additional information for both students and teachers are appended. An inviting approach to an interesting ecosystem."Christine Markley, Washington Elementary School, Barto, PA"

Copyright 2007 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

August 1, 2007
This attractive picture book looks at theflora and faunaof the salt marsh. On each spread, rhyming verses begin with the time of day and go on to comment on an animal or a plant: Its two oclock in the salt marsh. / A fish, small and tiny / swimming all around the grass / with scales so small and shiny. / The marsh is like a nursery / where little fish can hide. / They eat the food thats brought their way / with each new rising tide. Thesensitive, precisely rendered artwork, which shows up particularly well from a distance, uses three overlapping scenes on a spread that neatlywork together to show the salt marsh as a whole while offering close-ups of details. Appendixes include a matching game and illustrated paragraphs on the importance of salt marshes, the effects of tidal changes on inhabitants, and the cause of the oceans tides. A welcome addition to science collections, given the dearth of material onthis vital ecosystem.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2007, American Library Association.)