WHAT’S IN A TIDE POOL?

What's in a tide pool? Periwinkles, a ruddy turnstone, a blue mussel, sea anemone, barnacles, and more. This teeny tiny book (only five inches square), just right for small hands, introduces ten creatures that live in and around the tide pool. Each is described in a brief paragraph with an accompanying illustration. Creatures are not drawn to scale, so the small quarter-inch barnacle appears as large as the 25-inch herring gull. And scientific names are not given. Still, the watercolor-and-ink illustrations invite careful looking. The text, while brief, is difficult, e.g., “The sea urchin’s shell, called a test, is covered with protective moving spines to deter predators.” The modest price makes this title appealing for home purchase, but the small size and lack of references make it less useful for school and public libraries. (Nonfiction. 5-8)