Ana and the Sea Star

December 1, 2017

PreS-Gr 2-When Ana and her papa discover a sea star during their walk on the beach, Ana wants to take it home. Papa helps her understand that the sea star is alive and must go back to the ocean. He then consoles her by painting pictures with words that describe the sea star's home under the sea. When Ana gets home, she tells her mother about the sea star using Papa's technique. Hogan's painterly and realistic illustrations take viewers to the beach and under the sea. Her depictions of the natural world evoke the joy of the sea, the salty air, the sand, and the animals that live in this habitat. Hogan's experience as an island dweller in Maine truly shines. Roelfs's text has a lot going on. It covers respecting the natural world, animals of the sea, and using one's imagination through much description and dialogue. The illustrations work well at grounding and depicting the abundant text. There is back matter that provides further description and facts about the animals mentioned in the story, including Ana. VERDICT This gentle story and lovely artwork touch on sea animals, using one's imagination, and respecting nature. An informative and delightful addition.-Catherine Callegari, Reston Regional Library, VA

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