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.

 

 

Do-Re-Me & You! NOW merged with Discovery Toys

Since there are several postings on this BLOG that recommend Do-Re-Me & You! products, you will be interested to know that this company has now merged with Discovery Toys.

If you are familiar at all with Discovery Toys, you’ll know that they hold the same high standards for quality toys that encourage learning through active exploration and discovery.  Do-Re-Me & You will be adding the element of music learning to the line of toys offered by Discovery Toys.  Actually, Kindermusik International will continue to design, record, and produce products as part of the merger agreement.

Unfortunately, I chose not to switch to being a Discovery Toys consultant.  I totally believe in the products, and support this merger.  As the future unfolds, I see that these products will complement each other, and truly bring FULLY integrated music and learning sets to more and more families.  I chose to instead focus on my Kindermusik programs and on my family.

Please feel free to check out www.DiscoveryToys.com for yourself, and Search for Do-Re-Me & You products.  You can also get a lot of the closeout sets for really great prices on the Kindermusik site, www.shopkindermusik.com .  Really great prices on fantastic integrated music learning sets that are not available anywhere else, and won’t ever be.  Just because they are close-outs does NOT mean they are not good.  They just didn’t make Discovery Toys top choice list.  My 4 year old daughter LOVES the book and CD sets, and I LOVE the music on these CDs, and all the fun learning things that come with them. 

Happy shopping!