Over in the Ocean: In a Coral Reef

Over in the Ocean: In a Coral Reef

Author:  Marianne Berkes

Illustrator:  Jeanette Canyon

Copyright: 2004

Publisher:  Dawn Publishers

Number of Pages: 36

Genre:  Poetry

             I selected this book because of the very beautiful cover.  This is a book that takes place in the ocean by the coral reef.  This is a book that counts different creatures that live in or around the coral reef.  The story follows an octopus, parrotfish, clownfish, stingrays, puffer fish, dolphins, angelfish, needlefish, grunt fish and seahorses.  The author adds at the end of the story that the story can be sung also.  She provides music and the tune.  She also includes information about each of the ocean creatures described in the story. 

            What makes this book so amazing is that the art in the book is done using polymer clay.  The art is rendered in bright tropical colors.  The art is done is bright pinks and turquoises.  The details are very intricate.  The illustrator uses double page spreads to depict the beautiful ocean life.  The book uses informal text placement.

            This book would be appropriate for children 3 to 8.  I could see the book being used in older grades as well though because of all the information about the ocean life in the story.  This lesson could be used in the younger grades as a math and counting lesson.   This book could be used in a lesson about family.  This would be a great resource book to use to discuss the coral reef.   This book has won many awards.  It has won the Benjamin Franklin Silver Award, Delaware Blue Hen Award Winner, Indiana Young Hoosier Award Nominee, National Parenting Publications Gold Award, Learning Magazine Teacher’s Choice Award, Bank Street Best Children’s Books of 2005, Florida Reading Association Picture Book Award, Maine Chickadee Award Nominee, The Marion Vannett Ridgeway Award, and the Indiana Media Educators Young Hoosier Book Award Nominee.