Sea Bones

by Bob Barner

Author and illustrator Bob Barner makes waves with his signature rhyming text and colorful illustrations in this lush picture book about the sea. Filled with incredible fishy facts about vertebrates, invertebrates, endoskeletons, and exoskeletons, plus an underwater informational chart, Sea Bones will make young readers want to dive right in!

Genres: Picture Books, Nonfiction, Nature, Science, Animals, Childrens, Juvenile

32 pages, Hardcover

First published March 31, 2015

About the author

Bob Barner has been drawing since he was three years old. He graduated from the Columbus College of Art and Design, then moved to Boston where he was an art director at several advertising agencies and design studios. He was hired to help comic strip creator Al Capp draw Li'l Abner and studied with Milton Glaser at the School of Visual Arts in New York. He lives with his wife, Cathie, in San Francisco, California, where, in 2004, he was honored as a San Francisco Library Laureate.

Reviews

[La Coccinelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

As the title suggests, Sea Bones is a book about ocean creatures and their bones (or lack thereof). A rhyming narrative runs along the top of the pages, underneath which is an illustration and more factual information about the creatures in question.

We learn about vertebrates and invertebrates, endoskeletons and exoskeletons, and even some creatures that don't have bones at all (such as jellyfish). The colourful collage illustrations bring the undersea world to life. At the end, there's a chart featuring some of the creatures encountered in the book, and we can clearly see which traits they do or don't have.

I liked Penguins, Penguins, Everywhere! by the same author a little more than this book. Then again, I've never been a huge fan of marine biology. This book would probably appeal more to those who really have an interest in the things that live in our oceans.

[Erik This Kid Reviews Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really cool book that teaches you a lot of things about creatures of the sea, and their structural supports. The torn paper pictures have a cool feel to them that makes you want to look at them for ages.

The book is meant for younger kids – to introduce them to vertebrates and invertebrates that live in the sea and I think the illustrations do a lot to capture your imagination. The story has a sing-song rhyme to it that makes the text flow.

The book has a cool fact paragraph near the bottom of the page for more advanced readers/read-alouds. The book includes a mini-chart on sea animals and their structural supports. It inspired me to ask about other fish. It is a really cool nonfiction book for younger kids!
*NOTE* I got a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

[Aliza Werner · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very primary feeling text for the narrative part of this book, but much more sophisticated text for NF captions. One page was completely off topic of sea bones...it showed animals that use bioluminescence at the bottom of the ocean. I wanted narrative part to be meatier or to do away with it all together for primary readers.

[Allison Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

K-3 NONFICTION
Title: Sea Bones Author: Bob Barner

How would you describe the plot? This book takes readers through the ocean and expolores all sorts of facts about different species.

How would you describe the characters? A variety of sea creatures

What is the main conflict? Not applicable to this text. It follows facts rather than a story arc.

What is the main theme? Fish and their bones.

How would you describe the author’s style? Colorful and rhythmic.

What point of view does the author use? First person

Share your thoughts on the design and layout of the book.
This book is colorful and fun to read while also being full of facts that students can learn from.

What lessons could you teach with this text? Supporting details and compare and contrast. Also learning how to find information in a nonfiction text.

Please provide at least two of the Arkansas State Standards you would use in a lesson.

RI.1.5. Craft and Structure. Know and use various text features to locate facts or information in a text.

RI.1.7 Integration of Knowledge and Ideas. Use the illustrations and details in a text to describe its key ideas.

What is your overall assessment of the book? This book is a fun and colorful way to convey new information and explore an unfamiliar topic.

[Shay · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book will teach readers everything there is to know about ocean creatures. Readers learn about ocean creatures such as shrimp, whales, lobsters, coral reefs and more. The book explores each creature's bone structure. Readers learn which creators obtain bones, the type of bones they have, the different names for each bone, how many bones each creature withholds, and which creatures do not have bones at all. Lastly, students will learn which creatures in the ocean are and aren't alive as well as how each of them survives.
I gave this book two stars because it was very difficult to understand. There were a lot of big words with little to no context unto what the words meant. I do not think this book would be useful for young children. Its context is not written in a way that is the best for children to comprehend.

[Eve Schortgen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book teaches readers about a variety of ocean creatures. Author Bob Barner mentions everything from shrimp, to whales, to lobsters. While there are simpler sentences suitable for children in kindergarten and first grade, there are also more informational texts on the opposite page that would be suitable for older children. Barner takes you to the bottom of the ocean through his words and illustrations.
I gave this book five stars for its diverse usage. This book is ideal for a variety of ages, and was well planned out. I thoroughly enjoyed the vivid pictures and the information the author provided about life in the ocean.

[AMY · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautiful book packed with facts. Layered paper creates a lovely palette for sea creatures. The book tells about the bone structure of different sea animals. Some pages show what the bones look like. The last page has a great comparison chart with features such as is it a fish? does it have a backbone? This is a great book to use with a unit on vertebrates. Highly recommended for Grades K-3.

[Tori · Rating 4 out of 5]

A science-for-kids picture book explaining that some sea creatures have bones just like us (while some do not!). Easily adaptable for both toddler and preK storytime. I can definitely see using this during next summer's beach week.

[Liz Tiethoff · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a cute book and the art is very funny since it seems to be torn paper. But in the end they label a sperm whale as a blue whale and that undermined the validity of the book for me. Still rating it 3 stars for the art and because my 20 month old actually sat through a book that wasn't a story.

[Marissa Musso · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is filled with incredible fishy facts about vertebrates, invertebrates, endoskeletons, and exoskeletons, and an underwater informational chart. Sea Bones will make young readers want to dive right in!

[Lynn Davidson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating information fills these pages about creatures that live in the sea. Some have inside skeletons, some have outside skeletons, and some have no skeleton at all! Some don't even have bones. The reader gets to read sea facts at the back of the book. All beautifully illustrated.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the combination of short bold sentences and more detailed small paragraphs making this a great multi-age non-fiction read.

[Kelsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very informative book with bright colors and cute illustrations. I love how additional information was included on each page if you wanted to learn more information.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

With deftly created and well-placed cut paper, Bob Barner has created a colorful and informative book for young children who want to know what the bones of sea creatures are like. The pages have simple statements, then show in brief words and illustrations the specific part of sea creatures. For example, he explains about creatures that have backbones and those that do not, then explains what that means, furthering the information with real vocabulary: endoskeleton, exoskeleton, vertebrae, etc. It’s a book for beginning researchers that will be helpful starts to questions about sea creatures. There is a detailed chart in the back concerning identification.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rhyming text and colorful illustrations highlight the wonders of creatures whose habitat is the sea. The images show the marine life swimming through a coral reef and even dwelling far beneath the ocean's surface. I really like the jellies with its almost see-through body and the denizens of the deep who carry their own lights with them. This is a visually appealing picture book with its torn paper images, but I wish there had been thumbnail sketches describing each of the species depicted on the book's pages. I liked the Sea Facts graphic organizer at the end of the book.

[Selena · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great nonfiction that is a must for library shelves. It goes beyond skeletons of sea creatures to the importance of the skeletons of coral reefs as well and how important those are to sea life. This is another book that can grow with children as it has simple facts in bold print for younger children and more details for the older ones. The pictures also tell much of the story as with all picture books.

[Janet · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love the colorful illustrations of this title most of which appear to be collages. The factual information did not seem to flow in a logical manner and I felt the info did not build on itself in a logical way. Until I read the author info on the end flap I didn't realize this author/illustrator had also done a title called Dem Bones which is a favorite of mine.

[Celeste Swanson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has beautiful torn paper illustrations. It could be used with a variety of age groups because each page has both small and large text information. I especially love the Sea Facts page at the end of the book. My only criticism is that I was hoping to find a links/ further reads page at the end.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Best of 2015. Love the illustrations. Love the simplicity of the text and that it can go deeper. Love the concept. Love the chart at the end. Love the use of familiar and new sea creatures. Just love.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

Informative read about the creatures in the sea with bold and bright illustrations. Can be a simple readaloud with the bigger text but also has more detailed info. in smaller text. Good nonfiction pick for a sea story time for PS-1 or a teacher collection pick for 1-4 gr.

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

The rhyming main text and bright mixed media drew me to this book - I felt like I needed sunglasses! My favorite feature of the book, though, is the table (chart) at the end that compares the creatures!

[Laura Giessler · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some good information about vertebrates, invertebrates, endoskeletons and exoskeletons. There was a disconnect for me between simple the rhyming text and the more detailed information on each page. The book loses its flow if you stop to read the information.

[Alyson (Kid Lit Frenzy) · Rating 3 out of 5]

dual text looks at creatures in the sea and who has bones and who does not.

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love the chart at the end. Love the pictures and font size for reading aloud. Love the way you can read it with young children or add in the extra information for bigger ones.

[Brenda · Rating 3 out of 5]

would have been better with real pictures

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book itself seems a little run of the mill, but the Jeopardy style Sea Facts board in the back is clever. I'm definitely stealing this idea!

[Becky Loader · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nicely done review of sea creatures and their make-up.

[Terry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great picture book for my six-year-old grandson. It explains the difference between vertebrates and invertebrates, then has an quiz at the back that I know he will love.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun interesting collage illustrated non-fiction text about sea animals and their bone structure... read it to 5th graders, and only some enjoyed...definitely geared towards primary grades.

[Renarta Tompkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nonfiction

I think this is a great book for starting a discussion about sea animals. Suitable for kindergarten or first grade classrooms.