School Library Journal Review
| K-Gr 3--This picture book sparkles with a mix of basic and surprising information about oceans. Beginning with the request "Would you do me a favor? Check to see if there's any salt water beneath you," the text grabs readers' curiosity with its friendly, inviting style and then provides the necessary information. The illustrations are a perfect match--amusing and informative, with some unexpected details. Fishman explains how oceans affect us--the role of the water cycle in providing fresh water, food, and oxygen; the impact of the ocean on everyday life; and the need to confront problems like climate change and pollution. While emphasizing the wondrous aspects of the ocean, Fishman also encourages readers to help keep the oceans healthy. VERDICT A perfect combination of text and illustration invites young readers to learn more about our oceans. A fabulous find for science and social studies teachers, and young readers exploring nonfiction books.--Myra Zarnowski, City University of New York |
Booklist Review
| The most difficult part of writing this book was not being able to include every ocean fact, says Fishman's author's note, but there is still a wealth of information here. The book builds upon basic treatments of the water cycle to expand readers' idea of the ocean's role in that system. The bulk of the accessible, chatty text covers unexpected ways in which the ocean affects our everyday life--about three billion of Earth's inhabitants rely on seafood to survive, for example, and oxygen generated by marine plants is part of "almost seven out of every ten gulps of air you take." Toward the end of the book, the author discusses how we owe the ocean better treatment than we currently give it, and urges readers to do their part. A closing spread delves deeper into some topics touched upon previously--phytoplankton, the water cycle, aquifers, and climate change. Greenberg's whimsical jewel-toned cartoons underlie each page of text, enlivening the material and making it suitable as a read-aloud option for classes covering the water cycle. |
Kirkus Review
| In our world, oceans are everywhere, they affect everything, and everything we do has an effect on the oceans. In their third joint foray into science-related picture books following A Hundred Billion Trillion Stars (2017) and Power Up (2019), Fishman and Greenberg exhort their readers to do "good deeds" for the ocean. The writer addresses his readers directly with this simple message but starts off with an explanation. Not only do oceans cover most of our planet, they provide almost all the water. Much of the oxygen we breathe comes from ocean plants, and if our food doesn't come directly from the oceans, it relies on a water cycle that includes the oceans. Similarly, everything we do affects oceans. He points out that people haven't always thought about human effects on the ocean: "Sometimes it takes a while to learn from your mistakes, right?" The large, legible text is set directly on bold cartoon art characterized by bright, flat colors, blocky shading, and heavy black outlines. The two kids shown on the cover (one black-presenting, one white-presenting) travel throughout the book. One double-page spread shows some suggested actions: cleaning a beach, studying a coral reef, helping seals in an aquarium. Sadly, a final spread still shows one of the kids flying the helium balloon that first appeared over an ocean filled with trash, a mixed message. On this difficult issue, it's hard to strike the right balance for young readers; this is a valiant effort. (author's note) (Informational picture book. 4-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission. |
