"In the Sea" by David Elliott & Illustrated by Holly Meade: Review & Giveaway WINNER CHOSEN

ISBN:  9780763644987 Hardcover
Illustrated/poetry - Ages 3-5 years

About the book:  The briny deep is home to an enormous variety of fascinating creatures, from the dainty sea horse to the fearsome shark, from the spiny sea urchin to the majestic blue whale. In striking woodcut illustrations, diverse creatures glide through blue and green waters, while succinct, witty poetry examines their behavior and interactions. In this companion volume to On the Farm and In the Wild, David Elliott and Holly Meade explore the depths of the ocean in a collection of poems sure to thrill budding oceanographers and landlubbers alike.

A New York Times best-selling author and a Caldecott Honor-winning illustrator explore life in the ocean with clever poems and bold, expressive woodcuts.

My thoughts:  I am sure you are all beginning to realize that I thoroughly enjoy and love lovely children's books.  When they are in rhyme, it simply "lights my fire."  That said, let's look at bit at what the author and illustrator are bringing to us today.  I see pictures with bold, black definitive lines yet the art is fluid.  The colors reminiscent of the sea in all the watery colors.  Now let's look a bit at some of the rhymes that tell us about life under the sea.

There are a variety of types of poems in the book.

The Puffer Fish

A trickster.

A clown.

A magician.

A buffoon.

One minute

she's a fish;

the next,

she's a balloon.

Or how about this lovely "The Sea Horse" poem! Picture, poem, and a fact.  Learning with enjoyment.  That is what a good children's books is all about.

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 Author:   David Elliott is the author of many books for young readers, including On the Farm and In the Wild, the companion books to In the Sea. He is also the author of the New York Times best-selling picture book And Here's To You!, illustrated by Randy Cecil. David Elliott lives in New Hampshire. illustrator’s comments:

Illustrator:  Holly Meade has illustrated many picture books, including On the Farm and In the Wild, as well as the Caldecott Honor-winning Hush! A Thai Lullaby and its follow-up, Peek! A Thai Hide-and-Seek, both written by Minfong Ho. Holly Meade lives in Maine.

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GIVEAWAY

Candlewick Press will mail 1 of Chat With Vera's readers their very own copy of  IN THE SEA. Open USA only.  Easy entries:  Begins August 12 and ENDS September  2 at 12:00 Noon EDT.

• Mandatory Entry: Tell me what child or children you would enjoy reading this book with.  Leave a comment with your email contact information.
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DISCLOSURE:  I was provided a complimentary copy of "In the Sea" by Candlewick Press so I could give my honest opinion in this review.  The giveaway copy that one of Chat With Vera's readers will win will be provided by Candlewick Press.