Under the Sea

by Anna Milbourne, Cathy Shimmen (Illustrator), Nicola Butler (Contributor)

Simple text describes the animals that are found under the surface of the ocean, from the shallow coral reefs to the depths of the sea floor.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, School

21 pages, Hardcover

Published January 1, 2007

About the author

Growing up in North West England and in Germany, Anna wrote plays about talking animals, and stories about naughty children, and drew on every available surface. After school, she did an Art Foundation course, then a degree in German Literature & Philosophy at Oxford University. In 1998 she found her perfect job at Usborne in London, writing about everything from curious penguins to trips to the Moon. Usborne.com

Reviews

[Penny Scherzer · Rating 3 out of 5]

The illustrations are really nice in this book. There is just the right amount of information for a starting second grader for a group writing project. This is written as a story, not necessarily as a fact only book, so it is better for younger readers. The story takes readers from the ocean shallows to very deepest depths and back to the surface again. The illustrations are very vivid in color and interesting. The story is more so about what lives at each of the ocean levels, rather than in depth facts about the ocean. Kind of like a zoo tour, just enough info to get the gist of it.

[Natasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

The illustrations of this book are truly stunning. Definitely one of the most beautiful and realistic picture books I've seen about ocean life. However, I felt that the text didn't really match. It's very basic and offers one line to one page for a number of ocean animals and areas of the ocean. My kids are 5, 6, and 7, and they already knew most of the information provided. Kids will love to flip through this book on their own. Would make a good introduction for young children to "under the sea", or plan on researching the animals mentioned yourselves in greater detail.

[Hamza · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this book I learnd about animals that live under water also I like this book 😏

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful pictures and facts about the sea!!

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful books with simplified information about the underwater biomes and the creature that live there, lovely imagery and great facts.

[Dana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the soft cushy cover for younger children. This book should definitely be judged by its beautiful cover and continues to invite the reader in through great endpapers of fish swimming through the ocean with the sun shining from above into the water. Great glossy pages show a variety of animals and fish that live in the ocean at different levels. It is simple to read and understand.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Under the Sea is a beautifully illustrated book, with splashes of colour that animate the world under the sea. It is a short tale which explores and ponders what life lives under the sea. The use of descriptive vocabulary and adjectives is extremely useful for English grammar lessons in Reception classes. This book allows your mind to wander into the illustrations which Anna has carefully designed. The vibrant colours of the sea and sea creatures splash out of the pages, animating sea life into reality.

This book would be useful in Reception year classes and Early year classes to discuss the geography of the sea and the history of exploration. It can also lead to discussions about sea life in general and differentiating between sea creatures and mammals. As mentioned above, descriptive words are found throughout the tale, for example "Jewel Bright, eager, slinks, glide, booming", which can be utilised to discuss adjectives in English classes.

To summarise, a beautifully illustrated book, cleverly written and useful in Early Year classes.

[Micah · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is a small book, but comes to a very good story when the blue big whale comes. That was my favorite part. This story had lots and lots and lots of animals that live in the sea. The big blue whale was wandering around in the light where there was lots of fish who tried to eat other things that they eat. Deep down there are lots of animals that live int eh sea but there's squids, jellyfish, crabs, and all other animals that live down there. The whale was all the way above them.

[reviewed by a 6 year old, typed by his mama]

[Carrie Gelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful undersea pictures bumps this up to a 4.

[Summer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great bright illustrations of life under the sea!

[Isobel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is full of exciting picture of under water nature, looking at how creatures live in the sea. It helps teacher children about different nature.