Over in the Ocean: In a Coral Reef

Over In ...

by Marianne Berkes, Jeanette Canyon (Illustrator)

Learning becomes fun with this book about the animals of the ocean! In Over in the In a Coral Reef , amazing artwork will inspire kids in classrooms and at home to appreciate the beauty and biology of coral reefs and world around us! Brilliant artwork is the star of this oceanic counting book, based on the classic children's song "Over in the Meadow". Kids will sing, clap, and count their way among pufferfish that "puff," gruntfish that "grunt" and seahorses that "flutter," and begin to appreciate the animals in the ocean. And the clay art will inspire many a project. Parents, teachers, giftgivers, and many others will captivating illustrations of sculptures fashioned from polymer clay. backmatter that includes further information about the coral reef and the animals of the ocean. music and song lyrics to "Over in the Ocean" sung to the tune "Over in the Meadow"! a book for young readers learning to count!

Genres: Picture Books, Animals, Childrens, Counting, Science, Storytime, Nature

32 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2004

Reviews

[Nathan Meier · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good! The clay relief illustrations really caught my eye! I like that there’s information in the back about the difference animals

[Katie Fitzgerald · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read at Baby Story Time on 6/28/11: http://storytimesecrets.blogspot.com/...

Read at After School Story Time on 1/26/12: http://storytimesecrets.blogspot.com/...

Read during pre-k class visit on 1/23/13: http://storytimesecrets.blogspot.com/...

Read at daycare visits on 6/19/13: http://storytimesecrets.blogspot.com/...

Read at Summer Camp Story Time on 7/10/15: http://storytimesecrets.blogspot.com/...

[Genevieve Baumann · Rating 5 out of 5]

We bought this at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab for our 1 year old. It's a counting book, but also includes information about the animals who live in a coral reef and what we can do to help and protect them.

The pictures are gorgeous clay art designs and the book contains music and fingerplay instructions, as well as artist statements from both the author and illustrator.

[Michael Fitzgerald · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great illustrations. The words are a bit too contrived. The choice of a fancy typeface for the "fact section" is poor.

[Peacegal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Absolutely beautiful and mesmerizing illustrations, uninspired writing---"Over in the Meadow" has been re-imagined so many times. And no way a dolphin would have six calves at a time.

[Annie · Rating 3 out of 5]

4 to 5 stars for the illustrations 2 stars for the uncreative writing.

[Troyera2 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I put Over in the Ocean in my favorites tab because it is a great way to integrate poetry, rhyme, and song into the classroom. The illustrations are very colorful, intricate, and lively, which I think would really get the students engaged. It is a great way to teach counting and numbers as well because each page introduces a new sea creature (that probably most children are not familiar with) and goes up by one each time. One squid who squirts, two parrotfish who grind, three clownfish who dart, etc.

This is a great way to teach vocabulary too because most children are unfamiliar with darting, stirring, and grazing. The reading teacher could even put in actions or a TPR with the words and engage students to increase comprehension and further teach vocabulary. I think this book would be great for a read aloud, however; I don't think students could independently read this book until about 3rd or 4th grade.

[Andrés · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a song! a feast for the eyes! a vocabulary expander! a biology study! I enjoyed the rhymes and the polymer clay artwork. The musical notes to the song are in the back of the book, but I think they should be on the first page, as the text is lengthy, and not everyone knows a) this book is a riff on Over in the Meadow or b) the melody of that song. My edition (2021) didn't have information about the animals or the polymer clay art at the end, but I would have liked that.

[Jamie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book! Love the counting and that kids can find things in the pictures that have that many (ex: page with 10 baby seahorses also have ten pieces of seaweed). Kids like the song part of it and that they can start "reading" the kids parts on each page (partially echoes what the mom/dad says).

[Benjamin Elliott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really fun sing-song cadence for reading aloud with intricate and colorful 3-D illustrations.

The "old mother puffer" line made me giggle unintentionally, need to read through it a few times to prepare for that before using it in front of a group.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Over in the Meadow with ocean animals, the pictures aren't really my style, but the rhyme is easy and fun and this would make a good flannel board story/song. Definitely appropriate for story time.

[E & E’s Mama · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sung to the tune of Over in the Meadow, this version is all about ocean animals. The illustrations are shaped entirely from polymer clay! So unique and beautiful and skilled. The bright colors and creative art made it very fun to look at. Elliot and I adored it!


*library book. Read at 22 months

[Rebecca Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great one for this summer's SRP theme "Ocean of Possibilities." Counting, and I know it can be sung, but I'm blanking on the tune. A fun one to get the parents singing, and the kids can move like the different creatures in the sea.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

A nonfiction song book with gorgeous illustrations. I could have stared at the illustrations all day. My kids lived counting the animals and tracing the numbers. We also read every single animal description in the back. Next time we read it, we'll do the suggested actions.

[Carrington Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Crazy plot twists, this book was riveting. I had no idea these animals could do these things… blew my mind and would highly recommend. However my family left me to go see the dolphins while I was reading and I lost them, so hopefully I find them

[Theresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

A ocean themed counting book with baby animals found on a coral reef. Colorful illustrations.
On,y problem is dolphins usually don’t have more than 1-2 babies at a time so probably would have been better to use them earlier in the count.

[Elevetha · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of Nephew's very most favorite books.

[Jc · Rating 3 out of 5]

The students loved the art work that went into this book and liked the chant as well.

[Meredith · Rating 4 out of 5]

The illustrations in this book were amazing (made from polymer clay). The rhyme can actually be sung and that lilting pattern was evident while reading out loud.

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’ve heard this rhyme before, different stories. So that wasn’t impressive & felt overdone. But the clay art in this book was amazing!

[Allison Ster · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a great counting book that also gives information of the sea animals in the book along with pictures of what they look like!

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love using this one in storytime. The illustrations are so cute, and it works really well in anything ocean-themed.

[Cori · Rating 5 out of 5]

fun to read and gorgeous illustrations

[Marg Corjay · Rating 4 out of 5]

The illustrations in this counting book were amazing! This book fit into my coral reef theme perfectly.

[April NeSmith · Rating 4 out of 5]

My 4 year old loved this book, mainly for the bright colors. She loved pointing out everything that was happening. Even my 7-month old really liked it.

[Allen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Could use in math or science.

[Herold Homeschool · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful book the images are amazing. We love the rhyming and counting and the back of the book has more info it’s just an all around great book.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

The clay artwork is amazing! Great counting book :)

[Lisa D · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it!

[Suzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such awesome illustrations! The boys were captivated.