OCEAN MOTIONS

Walruses wave, jellies jiggle, and gulls glide in this board-book introduction to sea creatures.

All these creatures live in or near the sea, but a youngster would not normally see them together except when visiting an aquarium. The inclusion of “river otters” might be confusing. Despite their name, they sometimes head to the ocean to fish, but the book lacks backmatter to explain this to adult readers who may be faced with inquisitive children’s questions. Still, illustrator Endle’s playful cut-paper collages of each animal are surprisingly accurate, highlighting the essential features of each species. The uncluttered illustrations match the text clearly; even when two animals share a spread, which animal is which is clear from the layout. Older toddlers may want to count the creatures; the number shown varies depending on the page design. The alliterative text reads like a baby’s bounce rhyme. Author Babypants, aka Chris Ballew, is a former rocker–turned–children’s musician so it’s not surprising that his text begs to be sung. (A note in the back of the book informs readers that a recording will be available for free download on Babypants’ website.)

A quick, tuneful dip into oceanography