My Favorite Ocean Creatures Books

For my families in my Kindermusik – Creatures at the Ocean semester – and anyone else who loves the beach and all it’s sea life as much as I do, I heartily recommend each one of these books.  I do hope you enjoy them.  If you haven’t had a chance to participate in the Creatures at the Ocean semester, I HIGHLY recommend finding a Kindermusik educator near you to see if they are planning one this summer!

·         If You’re Happy – A Tiny Play-A-Song book;  ill. by Mark Frueh, Publications International, Ltd. 1996.         ·         This is the cutest book about the sea creatures version of this song.  With the picture of the dolphins, the verse reads, “If you’re silly and you know it, flip your fins”.  The melody at the touch of a button plays really fast, too fast for children to sing along with, or enjoy the type of movement that it can instigate, so I just took the battery out so we could really enjoy the words and play.  Not on Amazon.

·         Who’s At Home?  In Sea Star Ocean, Illustrated by Elizabeth Gatt.  A Little Look Around book by Reader’s Digest Children’s Books, 1994.  I found it at Barnes and Noble.  This is a perfect little book for the youngest of readers.  They can turn to any page and find out about a different sea creature.

Well illustrated with about 10 different sea creatures getting their own page and brief specific information about them that children can really relate to.  This is a great introductory book, and is a wonderful lead to all kinds of movements and sounds!  Amazon has a copy, but there must be a pricing error!

·         Seashells by the Seashore, by Marianne Berkes,  (I got it at the Florida Aquarium)

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OOOOooo !  My newest addition is probably for age 3 and up, but it is like taking a walk on the beach, finding a beautiful shell (named and described in rhyme) on each page.  It includes a laminated guide to shells on the last page.  The words are even as soothing as a walk along the beach.

 

 

 

·         1, 2, 3, Octopus & Me                              Do-Re-Me & You     through Discovery Toys

The book is a beautifully illustrated counting book, using sea creatures creatively making music and dancing.  The CD is wonderfully fun and full of songs about the ocean, including The Octopus’s Garden (Beatles), and many Carribean folk songs.                       

·         Glow in the Dark:  Under the Sea, written by Jean Lewis,  Golden Book, 1991

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             In addition to the unique feature of having the illustration outlines glow in the dark, this book itself has a wonderful story about two children that visit the underwater lab of their Aunt and Uncle.  The full color illustrations, labels, and factual information make for well loved, and repeatedly read book for my children.  Their other favorite in this series is “Trip to the Planets”.  Amazon boasts several copies, many as low as one cent.

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·         High Tide, a Textured Soft Shapes book by Kate Davis,  2001, by Innovative KIDS

·         The youngest ones love taking out the large shaped foam ocean creatures from the puzzle pages of this book. And there is only 4 pages with some fun “Who am I?” type rhymes.  The pages are made with a wavy texture to the foam, and each pull out creatures has a unique texture to it’s foam as well.

 

 

 

 

·         Big Little Otter, by Lillian Hoban, HarperFestival, 1997

·         This beautifully illustrated book brings a simple introduction to some of my favorite creatures to watch at the aquarium or zoo.  But even more appealing to my children is the way the text brings home the familiar theme of young ones wanting to be BIG.   “Look, mama, look at me. I’m a big little otter!”

 

·         Where the Sharks Are, by Duncan Maxfield, 

·         I can’t say I’m a big fan of Rugrats, who are the main characters in this book, or any TV themed franchise, and the related books, etc.  But this book was given to us by some friends, and upon reading it, it is a wonderful young child perspective of a trip to the aquarium.  Kids just think some of the darndest things.  

The Big Big Sea   by Martin Waddell; ill. by Jennifer Eachus;  Candlewick Press, 1994

“Mama said, “Let’s go!” So we went…”  out in the night to the big, big sea.  Oh, I wish I could express the calm feelings, and the family togetherness that the illustrations and the words to this story instill in both parent and child during a reading of this book.  This book is a wonderful way to end an evening, whether you are near the beach, or not.

Sand Cakes – A Frank Asch Bear Story;  Parents’ Magazine Press, 1978

I LOVE Frank Asch books !!!  So simply illustrated, such clever stories, and I love how smart the little bear is, yet totally displays the characteristics of how a child thinks.  In this book, the bear family goes to the beach.  Little bear wants to make a sand cake for his dad, AND have him EAT it.  Well, both dad and little bear have a very creative way of doing just that!  I can’t find a picture, but it is available from Amazon for as low as $2.00.  I buy every Frank Asch book I find.  This one I found at a yard sale.

 

 

Locomotor Motion Sign Language

Here we go a-walking down the street,

down the street,

down the street

Here we go a-walking down the street,

La – la – la – la – la 

Locomotor motion is how a body moves through space.  

Walk -         Both hands flat, palms to floor, alternating up / down

Stop –          Rt. Hand flat, slap perpendicular into Lt flat palm  

Look –         Rt. Hand first two fingers point to eyes, then turn out  

Listen –      Rt. Hand thumb & first finger in L shape, put to Rt ear

Tip Toe -   Both pointer fingers pointing down, alternate up & down

Jump –        Rt hand first two fingers jumping in palm of Lt. hand

Dance –      Rt hand first 2 fingers swishing across palm of Lt. hand

Family Time Sign Language

 With the SUMMER here now in FULL BLOOM, we spend a great deal of time with our family.  And we are learning to use sign language for family, friends and activities, in our Family Time class, esp. with the older students (up to 10 years old).

I know animated pictures would be a better way to learn , but I don’t have a good resource for that, so I will just describe what the sign would look like.  I also found a few pictures of babies signing.  It is the first word listed next to it that is pictured.  Have fun!

 

Mom         Open wide hand facing out, touch thumb to chin twice

 

Family       each hand touches first finger to thumb–

                          Movement – touch thumbs then move to touch pinky fingers

 

 

 

 

Dad           Open wide hand facing out, touch thumb to forehead twice

 

Brother    “grasp rim of ball cap” twice, then make pointer fingers parallel out front

Sister        draw thumb along cheek, then make pointer fingers parallel out front

Friends       hook pointer finders together, then flip over

I                       Hand in fist, pinky out, tap fist to chest

Love                Cross arms across chest, “hug tight”

You                  Point to person you love

I Love You       Thumb, pointer & pinky out, then wiggle hand  (shorthand)

 

Help                 One flat hand lifts other hand as fist

 

 

Put Away         flat “O” hand pointing down – move out and down

 

 

 

 

Please              Fist on chest, circle to left

 

Thank You       Touch right hand to lips and pull out, as if blowing a kiss

 

Your Welcome – Same as Thank you, just use first three fingers

 

Fun things to do with a friend…

Book                Hold flat hands together, then open like a book

 

 

Music               Glide Right open palm across inner part of Left forearm

 

 

Ball                  Outline shape of ball with both hands