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A First Book of the Sea Hardcover – September 25, 2018
Ours is a blue planet. The oceans cover more than two-thirds of its surface and constantly calls to us to play, explore, and dream. Our fascination with the sea is as endless as our means of enjoying it — whether building sand castles, navigating by the stars, or observing strange and beautiful marine creatures. In a volume brimming with information, Nicola Davies and Emily Sutton capture the magic and majesty of the ocean with stunning words and pictures. Poems about manta rays, flying fish, and humpback whales mingle with verses about harbors, storms, and pearl divers. Glimpses of life in the Arctic and Antarctic Oceans flow into spreads about tropical islands, coral reefs, and ancient shipwrecks on the seabed. Teeming with colorful details, this treasure trove of knowledge will be pored over by adults and children alike, and its exploration of the vast mysteries of the sea will captivate readers for years to come.
- Reading age3 - 7 years
- Print length104 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- Grade levelPreschool - 2
- Dimensions10.63 x 0.66 x 11.63 inches
- PublisherCandlewick
- Publication dateSeptember 25, 2018
- ISBN-100763698822
- ISBN-13978-0763698829
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From the Publisher
Editorial Reviews
Review
—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
This charming poetry collection takes readers on an exploration of the ocean, from a day at the beach to global migration stories...This nicely illustrated and enjoyable poetry collection is recommended for most libraries, especially where aquatic life is popular.
—School Library Journal
Sutton’s watercolor art offers sweeping, loose lines in cresting waves, sands, and skies, with sharper details in ship masts, sails, and delicate corals. A gentle compendium to read between sea visits.
—Publishers Weekly
About the Author
Emily Sutton is the illustrator of The Christmas Eve Tree by Delia Huddy and two other picture book collaborations with Nicole Davies: Tiny Creatures: The World of Microbes and Many: The Diversity of Life on Earth. Emily Sutton lives in York, England.
Product details
- Publisher : Candlewick; Illustrated edition (September 25, 2018)
- Language : English
- Hardcover : 104 pages
- ISBN-10 : 0763698822
- ISBN-13 : 978-0763698829
- Reading age : 3 - 7 years
- Grade level : Preschool - 2
- Item Weight : 2.12 pounds
- Dimensions : 10.63 x 0.66 x 11.63 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #1,300,239 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #1,308 in Children's Environment & Ecology Books (Books)
- #2,491 in Children's Marine Life Books
- #2,601 in Children's Earth Sciences Books (Books)
- Customer Reviews:
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Customer reviews
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Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers enjoy the book's illustrations and find it suitable for children of all ages. They describe it as a lovely, enjoyable read about the ocean that their kids love.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers enjoy the book's visual quality. They praise the illustrations, describing them as beautiful artwork for children to dream over.
"...The illustrations for this book were really, really good." Read more
"...to very young children as well as older ones accompanied by beautiful illustrations. The feel of the book is also wonderful. It is a large size...." Read more
"...I fell in love with the beautiful and whimsical drawings as I briefly thumbed through the pages while at the bookstore, and felt this would be an..." Read more
"My two, young grandsons LOVE the beautiful drawings that start many conversations...." Read more
Customers enjoy the book for children of all ages. They find it short, sophisticated yet accessible to very young children as well as older ones.
"My kids loved this book and all the information they learned. The illustrations for this book were really, really good." Read more
"...its own poem/vignette, usually short, sophisticated yet accessible to very young children as well as older ones accompanied by beautiful..." Read more
"...the pages while at the bookstore, and felt this would be an enjoyable read for him as a bright first-grader who enjoys books." Read more
"...A wonderful book for all ages" Read more
Top reviews from the United States
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- Reviewed in the United States on July 9, 2024My kids loved this book and all the information they learned. The illustrations for this book were really, really good.
- Reviewed in the United States on July 13, 2020I have a 6.5 year old and almost 5 year old. I saw a woman on youtube I follow talking about this book and it looked so beautiful that I immediately purchased it. It has really lived up to expectations. It isn't a continuous storybook, so it can be read from really anywhere and the illustrations are beautiful. Although not really the same at all, it reminds me of the Shel Silverstein books of poems (Where the Sidewalk Ends, A Light in the Attic) because each page is its own poem/vignette, usually short, sophisticated yet accessible to very young children as well as older ones accompanied by beautiful illustrations. The feel of the book is also wonderful. It is a large size. The paper is thick and has a wonderful texture. Right now, for summer, especially when we are not able to take a vacation and go to a beach, this has been a wonderful book to enjoy with my children. I would highly recommend this book.
- Reviewed in the United States on November 24, 2021Saw this lovely book while on vacation in SC and was tempted to purchase it there, however, I packed really light and did not have any space to carry this back, not to mention the book is a little on the heavy side, so I decided to purchase this on amazon to gift to my nephew as a souvenir. I fell in love with the beautiful and whimsical drawings as I briefly thumbed through the pages while at the bookstore, and felt this would be an enjoyable read for him as a bright first-grader who enjoys books.
- Reviewed in the United States on December 8, 2021My two, young grandsons LOVE the beautiful drawings that start many conversations.
Each page has something new to learn and explore about the sea.
A wonderful book for all ages
- Reviewed in the United States on March 9, 2023Gorgeous
- Reviewed in the United States on July 19, 2019This book was purchased as a birthday gift for my son. We live by the ocean so it was bought with the intention of familiarizing him with things we would see. It is an incredible insight into ocean life, things you could do at the beach and creatures he could recognize at the sea. I can’t wait to scoop up her other books!
- Reviewed in the United States on November 15, 2018Nicola Davies is a well-known children’s book author who has produced some stunning non-fiction books and this is another to add to that list.
This book is all about the sea (if you couldn’t guess). It is filled with different fish, whales, birds even things such as a lighthouse and surfer. Each page has a different item and is complete with stunning artwork by Emily Sutton and a poem written by Nicola. The book is split into four parts Down by the Shore, Journeys, Under the Sea, and Wonders.
The poems vary in size, some a few words long, some are full page. I would say due to the more grown-up illustrations – there’s no cartoon work here – and the poems, that this book would be more for an older child, even though it is called ‘A First Book’.
What I truly like about this book is that Ms. Davies also teaches the children what is the deadliest in the seas – Plastic. There is a double page all about plastic in the sea and what it does to the creatures. The illustration that accompanies these pages hopefully will have children fully understanding how bad the situation really is.
This would be an amazing book to have in a school and use for class reads. It would also work just as well at home too for all those young children who are interesting in the sea and animals.
Book Reviewed on Whispering Stories Book Blog
*I received a free copy of this book, which I voluntarily reviewed
- Reviewed in the United States on November 25, 2019An absolutely lovely book for children. Short poems to read at bed time, or beautiful artwork for a small child to dream over. Worth every cent.
Top reviews from other countries
- DaniReviewed in Italy on June 16, 2019
5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful book
The illustrations are like paintings and going through the pages it is like going to explore the sea, the beach, the ports and all the wonders you could find there.
- CrispinReviewed in the United Kingdom on August 29, 2018
5.0 out of 5 stars An outstandingly beautiful book
Saw this in one of my Instagram contacts photos. I love Emily Sutton and it looked like a nice book so I took a punt and I was delighted. It's a larger book than I was expecting and the illustrations are terrific. If like me you have grandchildren who have so many toys you don't want to contribute another one to their stash this book is ideal.
Virtuously educational and beautiful at the same time - what more could you want? Probably best aimed at age group 6 - 10, it's not for little children and it's too much a picture book for older children. I originally bought it for a little boy who's about to be four and I'm not sure it's any good for him TBH - maybe a Christmas present for his older brother? Or maybe I'll keep it for myself because it's so lovely!
- RJPReviewed in the United Kingdom on August 23, 2018
5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful Book - Great Value.
Beautiful Book & Great Value at £7.94! Full of beautiful illustrations, colours and printed on thick quality matt paper. A really sizeable book for money, with different chapters. Full of interesting seaside facts & fun ideas like making a pebble cake stall at the beach! Really impressed and very happy. A perfect holiday gift to work through during our seaside summer holiday.
- Michelle NicholsonReviewed in the United Kingdom on August 1, 2021
5.0 out of 5 stars Poetry in motion
A beautifully illustrated book of poetry I bought to read to the children at school. The chdren lived the poems and the pictures.
- Amazon CustomerReviewed in the United Kingdom on October 1, 2018
5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful
Nicola Davies and Emily Sutton are a match made in heaven, this book is beautifully written and richly illustrated. An absolute favourite that I love reading with my children over and over again!