I HEAR YOU, OCEAN

A family enjoys the glorious sounds of the ocean until the sun sets.

Two children listen to, imitate, and frolic along to the sounds of the sea, from roaring waves to barking seals. Sometimes they stand still to savor the whooshing of a seashell held to the ear; other times, they leap high while mimicking the “skree, skree” of a seabird. As the day goes on, the smaller child grows sleepy until finally both children fall asleep in the arms of their grown-ups. Washes of muted jewel tones and soft pencil lines invite readers to enjoy oceanside delights. With just a few sentences per page, the narrative skips along with a focus on auditory perception. Although the cozy ending denotes a bedtime story, the impulse to imitate flying birds and scuttling crabs may serve as an energetic rather than soporific catalyst. The generalized text and illustrations allow for many to draw connections to their own oceanside adventures, but other readers may wonder, for instance, which species of seabird says “skree, skree.” The two brown-haired children, one with curly hair and the other with straight hair, have brown skin and dots for eyes. One grown-up has long blond hair and pale skin, and the other has brown curly hair and brown skin. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

A solid seaside escapade that will sit nicely alongside other books on the five senses.