What do you think?
Rate this book
Ocean: A Photicular Book
A New York Times bestseller, Ocean is like being on a dive. Using Photicular technology, each image is like a 3-D movie on the page, delivering a rich, fluid visual experience. Open the book, and the reader is swept into the magic of an underwater world, face-to-face with a floating Yellow-Banded Sweetlips; with a glow-in-the-dark Deep-Sea Anglerfish; with a Sea Horse swaying in balletic motion; with a Sand Tiger Shark gliding along the ocean floor, its gaze haunting, its hook-toothed mouth gulping open and closed.
The text by Carol Kaufmann enchants with its descriptions of coral reefs; a journey on Alvin , the 17-ton submersible; and a meditation on our oceans. Then, for each creature, she writes a lively and informative essay, along with vital statistics—size, habitat, range, diet, and more.
The Photicular process uses an innovative lenticular technology, sliding lenses, and original four-color video imagery. The result is like a movie in your hands—the dance of life in a book.
The text by Carol Kaufmann enchants with its descriptions of coral reefs; a journey on Alvin , the 17-ton submersible; and a meditation on our oceans. Then, for each creature, she writes a lively and informative essay, along with vital statistics—size, habitat, range, diet, and more.
The Photicular process uses an innovative lenticular technology, sliding lenses, and original four-color video imagery. The result is like a movie in your hands—the dance of life in a book.
28 pages, Hardcover
First published October 7, 2014
2 people are currently reading
135 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
December 23, 2014
This book has absolutely amazing visual effects! I kept going through the moving sea creature pages, then was caught up in the informative text. There is a chomping shark that made me laugh out loud.
Any child interested in the ocean will love this book. My suggestion is to look up the explanation for the moving visuals on the internet with the child, however. I really wanted to take the book apart and see how it worked, so I'm pretty sure an inquisitive child would feel the same.
This is the kind of book you would want to gift to someone special.
Any child interested in the ocean will love this book. My suggestion is to look up the explanation for the moving visuals on the internet with the child, however. I really wanted to take the book apart and see how it worked, so I'm pretty sure an inquisitive child would feel the same.
This is the kind of book you would want to gift to someone special.
July 10, 2017
This is a cool children's board book with lenticular pictures that move as you move the page, which my kids adore but my nephew is terrified by. It's a great book to encourage reluctant readers to read, and a pretty book for gift-giving.
March 22, 2015
I love the photicular (scanmation?) books. They are lots of fun and make great Secret Santa presents.
July 10, 2020
I love books that use illustrations for pictures, especially if they are about nature and animals. So when I came across this book and it combines photographs with the 3D I definitely knew I wanted to read this book. Yep adults can fall for the same tricks that are supposed to excite younger readers....
Carol Kaufmann starts off with a nice introduction that explores what oceans mean, how important they are to us and the importance of balance by taking care of them. This is also related by her retelling her time of diving down in Belizean waters and how she relates her thought of the ocean with the different creatures that she was able to witness.
From there the book explores just a handful of ocean denizens so for those want an in-depth study this won't be it. Instead she takes the time to describe a few of the more interesting creatures she knows about such as the dumbo octopus, the generic sea horse, the green sea turtle and of course the sweetlips, whose picture is found as the cover graphic rather than one included on its page, just to name a few. After exploring the creature there is a small data box that gives more scientific information and the type of threat that face the creature from humans.
But the best part of the book and the main reason for it is its graphics. These are well done in many cases and allows the reader to view the creatures completing natural movements they are known for in their environment. As such the book allows the reader to "view" the creature instead of just looking at. And when I say they are mostly well done the only problem is of course when the photo seems to be moving backwards instead of forwards but I can handle that.
All in all this is a wonderful book to have and a great starter for those who are looking into oceans or the conservation of the same. And with such great graphics this book can either make for a great present to children or used as a display book that will definitely attract the inquisitive eye.
Carol Kaufmann starts off with a nice introduction that explores what oceans mean, how important they are to us and the importance of balance by taking care of them. This is also related by her retelling her time of diving down in Belizean waters and how she relates her thought of the ocean with the different creatures that she was able to witness.
From there the book explores just a handful of ocean denizens so for those want an in-depth study this won't be it. Instead she takes the time to describe a few of the more interesting creatures she knows about such as the dumbo octopus, the generic sea horse, the green sea turtle and of course the sweetlips, whose picture is found as the cover graphic rather than one included on its page, just to name a few. After exploring the creature there is a small data box that gives more scientific information and the type of threat that face the creature from humans.
But the best part of the book and the main reason for it is its graphics. These are well done in many cases and allows the reader to view the creatures completing natural movements they are known for in their environment. As such the book allows the reader to "view" the creature instead of just looking at. And when I say they are mostly well done the only problem is of course when the photo seems to be moving backwards instead of forwards but I can handle that.
All in all this is a wonderful book to have and a great starter for those who are looking into oceans or the conservation of the same. And with such great graphics this book can either make for a great present to children or used as a display book that will definitely attract the inquisitive eye.
December 26, 2020
A Christmas present to add to my collection of illustrated and pop-up books.
I had never seen a "photicular" book before, and while the effect is interesting, it isn't as exciting as I had hoped.
Still, I got a big kick out of watching the sand shark open and shut his jaws, the sea nettle swim, and so on.
The text accompanying each of the eight creatures is very well done. Who knew male angler fish got absorbed into the much larger female? I sure didn't!
I had never seen a "photicular" book before, and while the effect is interesting, it isn't as exciting as I had hoped.
Still, I got a big kick out of watching the sand shark open and shut his jaws, the sea nettle swim, and so on.
The text accompanying each of the eight creatures is very well done. Who knew male angler fish got absorbed into the much larger female? I sure didn't!
September 10, 2022
Such an informative book and well written. Filled with facts about sea animals all in one page!! Enjoyed reading it! The pictures added enthusiasm to the information as if you were watching a documentary!
October 10, 2017
Fascinating photography creating moving images of sea life. "Wow" factor makes it worth viewing.
December 20, 2017
Science, Nature, Ocean Creatures
March 21, 2018
This is a great idea. Lots of fun for my children to look, touch, and explore the picture. Plus great information.
October 26, 2019
A wonderful book with evocative images.
February 10, 2020
This is a book that can grow with the kid. At first TJ only wanted to see the moving pictures, but now he's actually interested in learning about the various animals.
May 4, 2020
Amazing visual effects!!!
May 5, 2020
100 stars! Very educational! This book has amazing visual effects!
August 11, 2020
Super 'photicular' images that bring the sealife to life. Dense text and description means this is not the most accessible for smaller children.
October 18, 2020
About 500 words and a Photicular/hologram picture per double page spread.
March 20, 2021
The “moving” pictures are so much fun!
July 5, 2021
Beautiful, well written photo play coffee table book 📚.
January 20, 2024
Great information at an adult level, but the pictures even kids love.
March 4, 2025
Cool visuals, but the writing wasn't the most approachable for kids. While I appreciate the emphasis on the need for protection and conservation, it ended up feeling like very heavy bedtime reading.
May 15, 2022
I love the cool pictures but l think that it’s a
bit wordy!🙁
bit wordy!🙁
April 5, 2024
This is one of the coolest books we own. The moving pictures are so realistic and make you feel like you have a small aquarium in your hands. We often don't read the text, but just take the time to look at the images. Highly recommended for any ocean lover.
April 2, 2015
Ocean by, Carol Kaufmann
This book had great information on ocean life. Each page featured a different type of ocean creature and went through questions that children would ask about them, and the answers to them. It featured creatures like; an octopus, sea horse, shark, sea turtle, moray eel, sea nettle, angler fish, and lots of ocean plants. The best part of this book that would really grab a child's attention would have to be the photicular images of these creatures. Each page was accompanied by an image that looked like it was moving and might swim right off the page. This is another book that might have a lot of information in it, but I would still categorize it as an older primary non-fiction. Whether the child is actually able to make it through all of the information is not as important as the great stuff that they will take away from it.
I paired this book with...
Mister Seahorse by, Eric Carle
This book has seahorses, trumpet fish, reeds, lion-fish, coral reefs, stickleback fish, tilapia fish, leaf fish, seaweed, kurtus fish, stone fish, pipe fish, and bullhead fish. All these different types of ocean life are included in a story about a seahorse having babies and protecting them from everything they might encounter in the ocean. This book has wonderful interactive pictures that help children understand all of these creatures a little better. This is why I paired these books together.
This book had great information on ocean life. Each page featured a different type of ocean creature and went through questions that children would ask about them, and the answers to them. It featured creatures like; an octopus, sea horse, shark, sea turtle, moray eel, sea nettle, angler fish, and lots of ocean plants. The best part of this book that would really grab a child's attention would have to be the photicular images of these creatures. Each page was accompanied by an image that looked like it was moving and might swim right off the page. This is another book that might have a lot of information in it, but I would still categorize it as an older primary non-fiction. Whether the child is actually able to make it through all of the information is not as important as the great stuff that they will take away from it.
I paired this book with...
Mister Seahorse by, Eric Carle
This book has seahorses, trumpet fish, reeds, lion-fish, coral reefs, stickleback fish, tilapia fish, leaf fish, seaweed, kurtus fish, stone fish, pipe fish, and bullhead fish. All these different types of ocean life are included in a story about a seahorse having babies and protecting them from everything they might encounter in the ocean. This book has wonderful interactive pictures that help children understand all of these creatures a little better. This is why I paired these books together.
June 21, 2017
I'm always on the lookout for something unique and fun for my husband's godchildren. This year they each received a photicular book for Christmas. These were entertaining and informative. While the pictures can be appreciated at any age I did find the text rather advanced. There may be some biology(!) questions depending on how closely the children read the text.
My hope was that they would enjoy looking at the photos now, and it might spark an interest in the future. Who knows what might inspire someone to become a marine biologist or polar explorer. In addition to scientific explanations of each photo, there is quite a bit about environmental concerns. I was pleased to give these as gifts and would recommend them to adults as well.
My hope was that they would enjoy looking at the photos now, and it might spark an interest in the future. Who knows what might inspire someone to become a marine biologist or polar explorer. In addition to scientific explanations of each photo, there is quite a bit about environmental concerns. I was pleased to give these as gifts and would recommend them to adults as well.
November 23, 2014
What a great book utilizing the photicular concept.
December 31, 2015
More to this book than expected.
July 23, 2016
This is a really cool concept but the species' presented are limited. Understandable, of course, but disappointing nevertheless.
July 6, 2020
J'aime le format très ludique.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews