If All The Seas Were One Sea

by Janina Domanska

What if all the seas were one sea? And what if a tree made up of all the trees in the world fell into the sea? Janina Domanska shows readers exactly what would happen in this 1972 Caldecott Honor classic. Her boldly designed and exciting etchings add wonder, humor, and suspense to a favorite nursery rhyme. Full color.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Art

32 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1971

About the author

Janina Domańska (July 28, 1913 – February 2, 1995) was a Polish artist, author and illustrator. Domańska attended the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw, Poland. She moved to the United States in 1952, where she later married writer Jerzy Laskowski. Domańska is best known for her self-illustrated children's books. She won Caldecott Honors for her book If All the Seas Were One Sea in 1971.

Reviews

[Calista · Rating 1 out of 5]

I love the artwork of this book. It is simple with many pen lines making patterns that make up the picture with bold colors. Great artwork. I did NOT like the story.

This beginning book is quick. It is going to a macro understanding of the world. If all the seas were one sea, the trees one tree and humans one human. It’s having us see them collectively. Then She goes and has the only human chop down the only tree into the sea, so now there is no tree. Terrible ecology and what is the point. This book made me very mad as I was reading it at that part. The nephew laughed at me a little because I couldn’t believe they cut down the tree. I don’t understand the idea of the story. It’s so simple and so disturbing.

I’ve been watching ‘This lonely rock (or planet) on Netflix and it’s a great show. It really goes into the large systems on our world that make the planet able to sustain life and it is really a delicate balance. Anyway, I have a pained response to any maimed trees. I can’t stand to see it. I’m a tree hugger. So, this idea really got me.

The niece didn’t like this book anyway, she said and she gave it 2 stars. The nephew thought it was rather funny and he gave it 4 stars. I guess my bias shines through here.

[Luann · Rating 2 out of 5]

I can see why this would catch the attention of a Caldecott committee. The illustrations are like nothing I've ever seen before. They are very geometric with interesting lines and shapes, although I liked some of the pictures better than others. My favorites were the animals in the sea - especially the seahorses and the octopus.

While I thought the pictures were interesting and quite unique, I had a problem with the text. Apparently it comes from a "favorite nursery rhyme" that I had never heard before. The text is very simple: "If all the seas were one sea, what a great sea that would be. And if all the trees were one tree, what a great tree that would be." The same pattern is followed with an ax and a man. So if a great man has a great ax, of course he's going to cut down the great tree "and let it fall into the great sea, what a splish splash that would be!" And that's the end of the book. If someone understands the point of this nursery rhyme, post in the comments! Please explain it to me, because I just don't get it. Some reviewers on Amazon seem to think there is some sort of "philosophical" point to it.

[Jen · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a very strange book.

[Ms. B · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Caldecott Honor with humor from the early 1970s.

[Peacegal · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a unique book. The standout part is definitely the illustrations, which have an eyecatching retro-modern look. As others have said, the "poem" doesn't make much sense at all and isn't terribly memorable.

[Cassandra Gelvin · Rating 3 out of 5]

If all the french fries were one french fry...

I guess it's a nursery rhyme, but it's one of the dumbest nursery rhymes I've ever heard. It basically takes the premise that all trees are combined into one tree, then that tree is chopped down with a giant axe by a giant man and falls into a giant ocean. It would be a really big splash!

That's not... Really? Okay... There's really no point to it. It's a very meandering hypothetical that doesn't go anywhere or have any kind of relation to reality. As such, the art, which is all apparently painted etchings in zinc, is very surreal and geometrical and highly patterned. It just looks weird. Everything about this book is weird.

For more children's book reviews, see my website at http://www.drttmk.com.

[Danielle B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book "If All the Seas Were One Sea" brings a feeling of suspense and humor. I enjoyed reading this book because it kept me guessing and wondering about the endless possibilities; the book also made me realize how small our world actually is and how important it is that we open our minds to creative ideas. The illustrations are fun and bold, and they bring a different perspective to the wonders of our world. I found the story uplifting and encouraging. I would recommend this book for Kindergarten or 1st grade classrooms.

[Becky B · Rating 2 out of 5]

What if all the seas were one sea and all the trees one tree and all the men one man and all the axes one ax? That's the series of questions posed by this book.

Ok, that was different. Umm, I guess the book is good for getting kids to think outside the box, but I really wasn't very impressed. The illustration style is definitely not something I've seen done before or since, probably for good reason. It is just weird, and I can't see it appealing to many little ones.

[Beverly · Rating 4 out of 5]

The illustrator uses black, red, green and blue to color the creatures, and places them against patterned backgrounds in the four different colors. Some of the illustrations are in panels, and some in double-page spreads. For example, she depicts 4 seas in 4 panels becoming one sea in a double-page spread.
Caldecott Honor, 1972

[Jenny · Rating 2 out of 5]

While I actually quite enjoyed the artwork, the text puzzled and even disturbed me a bit. If all the seas were one sea, what a great sea that would be. It goes on to talk about all the trees being one tree, and other objects being all one of that object. The ending where the one tree is cut down felt very, very troublesome to me.

[Paul · Rating 2 out of 5]

Like many other reviewers, I wasn't familiar with the nursery rhyme, which converges with a enjoyable ending. What makes the illustrations a real labor of love is that they were accomplished by etching plates.

[Rachel · Rating 2 out of 5]

Based off a Mother Goose rhyming poem (though I had never heard of it), this book uses brightly colored geometric etchings to tell the story of a great tree, ax and man and what would happen if these three got together. I was not a fan of the illustrations. Recommended for ages 3-7, 2 stars.

[Mckinley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really cool-o illustrations more graphic design than drawings.
Caldecott honor

[Jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

6 star book

absolutely incredible book. done in 1971 the art is still far ahead of today.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

The illustrations are so different in this book. Almost all line work. But fascinating! The story is told through very short sentences, but it's a beautiful story.

[Molly · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nursery rhyme that speculates that if all trees are combined into one tree, then if that tree is chopped down with a giant axe made by combining all axes by a giant man created by combining all men then the tree falls into a giant sea created from all seas, it would be a really big splash. The rhyme is accompanied by geometric etching illustrations. I really like the illustrations but I'm not a fan of the rhyme. It's very strange. So my rating is mostly for the illustrations.

[Haley Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stunning artwork with strong lines and colors in a retro-modern style. Simple, sweet rhyming lyrics. A thought of what if all of the seas were one sea? What a great sea that would be. Certainly deserving of the Caldecott Honor, it is a beautiful book that touches on the idea that there is something great in everyone/everything and by putting all of these together, we can find something great.

[Haley Muench · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has great illustrations. It was a weirder book though. It goes on the state that if all the things were one thing many things would be different. And if all the seas were one sea it would be a wonderful thing.

[Dan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked the pictures. The book highlights what may happen if you combine things to create one big thing.

[Melissa · Rating 2 out of 5]

The illustrations were unique, which is probably why it was a Caldecott honor book, but the story is nothing memorable.

[Nanny B · Rating 2 out of 5]

Different and interesting, colored line illustrations

[Kirsten Murphy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Caldecott Honor - 1972
Art Medium used - etching (zinc plate), brush and ink

[MaryAnne · Rating 3 out of 5]

The illustrations reflect the geometrical patterns often found in 1970’s artwork. I probably would have rated it higher if I’d read it back then.

[Laurel Zeisler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unique illustrations.

[Carmen Nibali · Rating 3 out of 5]

If all the seas were one sea is a poetry book about what if’s? What if a tree fell into the seas and the sea was one sea? The book is a Newbury honor published in 1971. The illustrations in this book are very geometric and brightly colored. They also are done by etchings but look more modern. The rhyming is very catchy but repetitive. The book is recommend for children ages four and up to 13. The poem makes children wondering on a different level about nature and different subjects. I think the poem is very catchy for four year olds but would need more input from an adult for them to build their own wonders. I would recommend this book for kindergarten and up. I give this book three stars for the intentions of making children think and wondering.

[Katrina Yazzie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought this book was simple but not plain. It was a favorite nursery rhyme. The illustrations were amazing. The text was simple and easy to read. Little children could be amazed by the pictures and it will be great for them to read the book easily. There is some repetition in vocabulary.

[Katie Fitzgerald · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the geometric illustrations that accompany this poem. I find their symmetry very interesting and satisfying. Despite its age, this is a book I can imagine using in story time, especially with babies and toddlers.

[Jacqueline Archdeacon · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book really made me think about the meaning behind it. I am still questioning its purpose, but I know it is greatly appreciated, as it is a Caldecott Honor Book. I would not read this in my classroom.

[Ellen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I agree that this book has an artistic illustration, but I doubt whether children will like it or not. The illustration of geometric patterns and its color is not really what I would like as a child. If I saw this picture book when I was young, I think I would have cried.

[SamZ · Rating 3 out of 5]

1972 Caldecott Honor - Favorite Illustration: I liked the details on the "great tree."
An fun retelling with great etching illustrations of the nursery rhyme of the same name. This was a fun little story, and K(6) thought it was funny.