Sea Turtles

Sea Turtles
by
Martha E. H. Rustad
Gail Saunders-Smith, consulting editor
children's fiction, ages 2-6

This is a colorful, simple book about sea turtles. Wonderful photography and easy to read fonts make this a great choice for early nonfiction reading. You will want to dive in with the turtles!
There is a word list and index, word count, and early intervention level (5) listings. There is a glossary, bibliography, and recommended internet sites list.

Others in the set are:
Corals, Crabs, Dolphins, Octopuses, Parrotfish, Rays, Sea Anemones, Sea Horses, Sea Stars, Sea Urchins, Seals, Sharks, and Whales. It is a good set to round out a children's nonfiction collection.

Surrounded by Sea

Surrounded by Sea: Life on a New England Fishing Island
by
Gail Gibbons
children's nonfiction

Gail Gibbons has written tons of nonfiction children's books and it is easy to see why she is so popular. Her words and illustrations are matter of fact and vivid. There is lots to see and learn about fishing, lobster catching, boating, and island life in this pleasant book. For children who are interested in learning to draw wildlife, people, or vehicles this would be a good example to emulate.

Barbie in a Mermaid Tale

Barbie in a Mermaid Tale
Step into Reading, Reading with Help, Step 2
(Preschool - Grade 1)
adapted by Christy Webster
based on the original screenplay by Elise Allen
illustrated by Ulkutay Design Group and Pat Kakula
children's fiction
ages 4-7

This 32 page adaptation from a direct to video Barbie film uses large, easy to read fonts, and colorful cartooning. Surfer girl, Merliah, goes on a big adventure under the sea with her trusty sidekick, the dolphin, Zuma.
The good news for feminists is that Merliah is not consumed with fashion, but having adventures and rescuing the ocean from certain doom.
For some reason the back cover says "What this book is about.. Barbie in a Mermaid Tale (tm) Marisa is a mermaid princess. Can she save the ocean from her evil sister?"
The main character is Merliah, not Marisa, so the cover got that wrong.
The evil mermaid is her aunt, not her sister, so the cover got that wrong, too.
Reading thirty two pages was too much to ask of the cover editor?

In the Night Garden

In the Night Garden
by
Barbara Joosse and Elizabeth Sayles
children's fiction ages 3-7

This is another book recommended by our local park district. It is a joyful, imaginative book about three girls who are pretending as they get ready for bed. Animals! Stars! Oceans!

Hopefully this isn't too stimulating of a book for a bedtime story. If you want to do some lucid dreaming you might read this book for ideas on what to think about when drifting off.

This would be a good one to take on a camping trip if you can fit it in with your other stuff and keep it dry!

My memory was playing tricks on me and I got this title confused with "In the Night Kitchen" by Maurice Sendak, but it does not deserve this mistreatment. Sorry Barbara and Elizabeth.