Frank Serafini | There's a Book for That

My class and I have fallen into a theme of ocean and sea life without really knowing we were heading in that direction. And just like dipping your toe into the deep blue sea and being lured into the depths, we have found that everywhere we turn, there are more books on this theme for us to discover. Here are twenty nonfiction picture book titles – some we have read, some that are in the pile to share and some we might not get to this time around. I hope that some will be ones you want to share with the children in your lives.

Books with a theme of Exploration:

Down, Down, Down: A Journey to the Bottom of the Sea by Steve Jenkins

How can we not be intrigued at the idea that we may only have encountered half of the large animals living in the sea?

Manfish: A Story of Jacques Cousteau written by Jennifer Berne and illustrated by Éric Puybaret

Cousteau was fascinated by a world that he couldn’t spend prolonged time in. Without being able to breather underwater, how could Cousteau explore its mysteries? Read a more detailed review here.

The Fantastic Undersea Life of Jaques Cousteau by Dan Yaccarino

Another fantastic picture book biography sharing the life of the inspiring Jacques Cousteau.

Sophie Scott Goes South by Alison Lester

This title is based on the author’s real experience of travelling to Antarctica. Full of all kinds of facts about icebergs, icebreakers, life in a research station. Read a more detailed review here.

Books with an Environment theme:

Life in the Ocean: The Story of Oceanographer Sylvia Earle by Claire A Nivola

The depiction of Earle’s curious childhood in the water, descriptions of moments in her life that truly shaped and changed her, beautiful and enticing illustrations and this very important message: “You can’t care if you don’t know.”

Winston of Churchill by Jean Davies Okimoto

This book tells us about Winston, the bear from Churchill, Manitoba who decides to mobolize a group of polar bears to teach the tourists who come to see the polar bears about the effects of global warming on the melting ice in the Arctic.

Ice Bear (In the Steps of the Polar Bear) written by Nicola Davies and illustrated by Gary Blythe

Nicola Davies tells us how polar bears survive in the Northern landscape weaving facts on each page into the beautiful story she tells in lovely poetic text.

Read about how I used this title in my room to practice deep thinking questions here.

Ocean Sunlight: How Tiny Plants Feed the Seas by Molly Bang and Penny Chisholm

Narrated by the sun. Learn about ocean’s life cycles and the importance of phytoplankton.

Books about Specific Sea Creatures (one or many):

Here Come the Humpbacks written by April Pulley Sayre and illustrated by Jamie Hogan

Through a story of a mother whale and her calf’s migratory journey, we are able to learn many things about humpback whales.

See What a Seal Can Do written by Chris Butterworth and illustrated by Kate Nelms

The reader is then invited into the world of seals. Learn all about gray seals – how they move, how they hunt and how their body is perfectly suited to their ocean home.

Read more about this book here.

One Tiny Turtle written by Nicola Davies and illustrated by Jane Chapman

The amazing story of the lifecycle of the loggerhead turtle.

Surprising Sharks written by Nicola Davies and illustrated by James Croft

Learn lots about sharks including how humans pose many threats to their survival.

Bubble Homes and Fish farts written by Fiona Bayrock and illustrated by Carolyn Conahan

How do animals use bubbles? In quite amazing ways! From the bubble nets of humpback whales to the bubbles sea otters use to stay extra warm in the cold ocean water.

In the Sea written by David Elliot and illustrated by Holly Meade

Poems about various sea creatures. Gorgeous illustrations.

Giant Squid: Searching for a Sea Monster by Mary M. Cerullo from the Smithsonian

Written like an active investigation. Just what is the giant squid? Why is it so elusive? How is it studied?

Shimmer & Splash: The Sparkling World of Sea Life by Jim Arnosky

Learn about different fish and sea animals that live in the ocean. Amazing fold out pages.

Books that begin on the Shore or wade into the Coral Reefs:

Coral Reefs by Jason Chin

In this title, being lost in a book means getting lost in a completely different world – in this case the magical world of coral reefs.

Hello Ocean written by Pam Muñoz Ryan, with illustrations by Mark Estrella

Not exactly a nonfiction title but a poetic text that speaks to all of our senses close to the shore.

Star of the Sea: A Day in the Life of a Starfish written by Janet Halfmann and illustrated by Joan Paley

The book itself reads like a story – we learn about how sea stars hunt for food, how they eat (by extending a stomach out through the mouth) and how they are vulnerable when the tide goes out to being eaten by seabirds

Looking Closely Along the Shore by Frank Serafini

Look at the shore in ways you have never quite imagined it through the camera lens and close up shots of Frank Serafini.

I learn so much by reading all of the blog posts that link to the Nonfiction Picture Book Wednesday event that KidLit Frenzy hosts. Visit Alyson’s blog to see what books are shared this week.

My goal is to read 65 nonfiction picture books for 2014. Progress: 42/65 complete!

Do you have favourite nonfiction titles on any of these themes? Please share in the comments!

It’s Monday! What are you reading?

Join Jen from Teach Mentor Texts and Kellee and Ricki from Unleashing Readers and share all of the reading you have done over the week from picture books to young adult reads! Follow the links to read about all of the amazing books the #IMWAYR community has read!

I had a little weekend getaway with some friends so my novel reading was put on pause but I found lots of picture books that are very worth celebrating!

Mitchell Goes Bowling written by Hallie Durand and illustrated by Tony Fucile

This book reminds me that Tony Fucile is fast becoming one of my very favourite illustrators. Wow has he captured the hilarity and drama of taking a little intense bowler to the bowling alley. Mitchell is very amusing – competitive (“Battle on!”), intense (“Awahhhhhhhhhhhhhh!) and dramatic (“I’m going home.”) Durand has perfectly depicted a first bowling experience with an energetic four year old and his suave bowling experienced Dad.

Anno’s Hat Tricks written by Akihiro Nozaki and illustrated by Mitsumasa Anno

I found this book (hardcover!) at a second hand store for $1.99 Yippee! Hurrah! I was instantly excited because I am such a fan of Mitsumasa Anno. But . . . I didn’t know what a treat I was in for. This is a math book, a logic book, a fantastic book to talk through numerous thinking puzzles. There are three children: Tom, Hannah and Shadowchild (who represents the reader) who wear different red and white hats. They can see the hats on the other children’s heads but not on their own. Can they figure out the colour of the hat on their head by clues and the colour of the hat on the other children?

Across the Alley written by Richard Michelson and illustrated by E.B. Lewis

It is the 1950s in New York City. Black and Jewish boys don’t mix. But Abe and Willie pay no attention to prejudice as they build their friendship by communicating through their bedroom windows. Baseball, violins and a big lesson in what friendship really can be and how it can inspire others to rethink segregation.

Animals Should Definitely not Wear Clothing by Judi Barrett and Ron Barrett

I first heard about this title thought the Nonfiction 10 for 10 event and so was pleasantly surprised to see this title in a new edition and in the new books section of my public library. I can see this book being well enjoyed in an interactive read aloud session with children as they marvel at the silly pictures that accompany a series of reasons why various animals should not wear clothing.

Kate, The Cat and the Moon written by David Almond and illustrated by Stephen Lambert

I read this book after dinner at friends last night as it was described by my friend as possibly the favourite picture book read aloud in 10 or so years of reading aloud to his children. It is a beautiful book – the text is worth rereading over and over before you even turn the page. Lyrical, full of beautiful cat like images. Kate hears mewing in the middle of the night and heads out to play with a cat visitor but not as a human girl – instead in lithe cat form. Delightful dream like fantasy and some lines to be treasured.

Mrs. Biddlebox written by Linda Smith and illustrated by Marla Frazee

Oh do I adore Mrs .Biddlebox and her grumpy antics! Frazee is SO talented.

Peaceful Piggy Meditation by Kerry Lee Maclean

A lovely introduction to mindful practices for children. A reminder for all of us really to take time to center and notice the small moments that make life so beautiful.

Looking Closely through the Forest by Frank Serafini

I will be using this beautiful nonfiction title before I take my class on a forest walk this spring. Mysterious close up photos of forest treasures that inspire the reader to want to climb right into the book and absorb the textures and sounds and smells that are hinted at through this visual treat.

I also finally got my hands on the latest Bink and Gollie title.

Bink and Gollie Friends Forever written by Kate DiCamillo and Alison McGhee and illustrated by Tony Fucile.

Not enough pancakes and not enough height but absolutely enough snickering and giggling inspired by this third in the Bink and Gollie series! As one of little girls often says, “Bink and Gollie are the bestest characters for me!”