Hello, Ocean!: With Wavy Pages Throughout

by James Carter, Steph Fizer Coleman (Illustrator)

40 pages, Hardcover

Published July 28, 2026

Reviews

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Youngsters will love the cutout in the shape of a raindrop on the book's cover as well as the interior pages that are cut in the shape of waves. Abundant shades of blue are used in the illustrations, created with gouache, ink, and digital collage, so that readers are able to appreciate the different colors found in the ocean. Sixteen brief poems introduce them to the ocean and its inhabitants, including whales, birds, coral, and creatures living in tide pools. The poems, "Humans" and "Our Future," sound a cautionary note about the ravages wreaked on Earth's waters by humans, most notably seen in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, and what changes we need to make. This inviting picture book with its fresh, engaging language will awaken interest in the ocean in readers as well as satisfy those with some knowledge of the topic, making it a good choice for an elementary science classroom library. The only omissions that disappointed me were the absence of sea turtles and more focus on overfishing and bottom trawling.