A First Book of The Sea written with original poems by Nicola Davies and illustrated in strikingly spacious watercolors by Emily Sutton is a lively look at the sea from four perspectives: Down by the Shore, Journeys, Under the Sea and Wonders. Fifty-three poems sing a song of seagulls and sandcastles and sharks and shells as the reader goes down to the beach, over to a pier, out to a lighthouse and under the sea.
Readers first see a family motoring to the beach. They’re all very excited to get that “first glimpse” of the water. The second section contains a sea shanty song that invites children to call and respond as well as an outstanding poem about a Chinese ship that plied the sea some 400 years ago. The accompanying picture shows nine red masts and a busy crew tending to ropes, barrels and a giraffe!
The book then turns to poems and drawings of magnificent things under the sea such as a giant squid! The poem is written in partial jest. The illustration is kinetic as the giant squid moves its red tentacles across the double page spread of the ocean deep.
And a wonderful surprise awaits in the fourth section----- a hidden gate-fold that pulls out to the length of four pages to accommodate the long body of a humpback whale. This amazing illustration includes the poem “Humpback Song” along with a second poem that gives instruction to children as to how to sing and sound just like the whale!
A FIRST BOOK OF THE SEA written by zoologist Nicola Davies and illustrated by Emily Sutton is a beautiful gift book for children 3-7 years of age (Candlewick Press, 2018).
Questions for A FIRST BOOK OF THE SEA
The illustration for “On the Pier” is full of activity. Study the picture and find the following actions: a man walking two dogs, a lady trying on a red hat, a man in a red sweater taking a photograph, a man selling balloons, people sitting on a park bench, a women in a blue dress pushing a stroller, a family feeding a seagull in flight, a lady in a red dress selling ice cream cones, a boy eating cotton candy, children who lose a red balloon and a man who has won a stuffed animal.
The poem “Island Dreaming” is accompanied by the images of 12 islands and a girl who is looking at a world globe in order to identify each of the islands. Study the drawings of the islands and try to identify them in the first place by the visual clues. Then, with the help of your parents or teachers try to name the other islands by looking at maps and using online sources.
Go to the four-page gatefold in part four of the book that features a magnificent picture of a humpback whale as well as a fun poem entitled “Sing Like a Humpback.” Follow the instructions for the making of the four humpback whale sounds. Try each of the sounds out separately before putting it all together. Have Fun!