Pip Bartlett's Guide to Sea Monsters (Pip Bartlett #3)

Pip Bartlett #3

by Jackson Pearce, Maggie Stiefvater

Pip and Tomas have deal with magical creatures that burst into flames and runaway unicorns. Now they have to go under the sea to deal with a new group of magical SEA creatures that are very cute but also a load of trouble.

Genres: Fantasy, Childrens, Middle Grade, Fiction, Audiobook, Animals, Science Fiction Fantasy

1 pages, Audio CD

First published June 26, 2018

About the author

I am not very active on Goodreads-- this is largely a placeholder account! Therefore, I do not read Goodreads mail. If you want to get in touch with me, please go here: CONTACT ME!


Jackson Pearce currently lives in Atlanta, Georgia, with a slightly cross-eyed cat and a lot of secondhand furniture. She recently graduated from the University of Georgia with a degree in English and a minor in Philosophy and currently works for a software company even though she auditioned for the circus (she juggled and twirled fire batons, but they still didn’t want her). Other jobs she’s had include obituaries writer, biker bar waitress, and receptionist.

Jackson began writing when she got angry that the school librarian couldn’t tell her of a book that contained a smart girl, horses, baby animals, and magic. Her solution was to write the book herself when she was twelve. Her parents thought it was cute at first, but have grown steadily more concerned for her ever since.

Reviews

[Kristy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third entry in the Pip Bartlett series. My eight-year-old daughters loved the entire series and spunky Pip! This book was just as loved as the previous two. Despite all those pesky sea monsters, it made us all want to be at the beach with Pip and Tomas--and maybe even Callie and the triplets! The girls absolutely loved all the amazing magical creatures Maggie and Jackson come up with, especially the spinnerseals!

This series is so wonderful for kids with imaginations and who love animals. It always inspires my girls to come up with their own magical creatures. I love how Pip works to solve her own problems, keeps a positive attitude and open mind, and is always a friend to everyone. These are excellent books!

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[Mohsen M.B · Rating 3 out of 5]

معمولی بود
نیت نویسنده خیره که می‌خواد با استفاده از جذابیت موجودات جادویی بچه‌ها رو به محیط زیست علاقه‌مند کنه
اما نیت تنها کافی نیست
صرفا وجود عناصر جادویی هم کافی نیست
اگر داستان‌پردازی درست و جذاب نباشه
کتاب لوس میشه و پندهاش تابلو
اتفاقی که تقریبا توی این کتاب افتاده
در مقایسه با کتاب دوم، داستان ضعیف‌تری داشت، شوخی‌های بی‌مزه و تکراری زیاد داشت
خیلی از قسمت‌ها مکالمه‌های بی‌معنی داشتن یا از دید آدمی بالغ روایت می‌شدن که داستان رو از حالت طبیعی خارج می‌کرد
این‌طور که از چند خط آخر پیدا بود
نویسنده بدش نمیاد که جلد چهارمی هم برای این مجموعه بنویسه

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

The premise of this is a bit Sea World-ish, with an aquarium spotlighting a main attraction in the form of a large sea creature performing in a show. I appreciate the way Lady Long-Legs (the kraken-like creature) is portrayed as being so bored, sad, and lonely. Dr. Greta, the biologist in charge of her care, doesn't understand this and thinks she enjoys being safe and cared for and out of the dangers of the wild. Dr. Greta truly loves her I think believes she is doing what is best for her. She also believes that having the creature on exhibit will help educate the public and make them care more about sea creatures and protecting the ocean. But when Lady Long-Legs family comes looking for her and starts smashing up the town of Port Candor trying to find her, Pip and her friends help Dr. Greta realizes the deep intelligence and family bonds of these creatures and that perhaps it is not in Lady Long-Legs' best interest to be in captivity. Nothing is too black-and-white here, the authors do a great job of showing that there are no easy answers but that we should always approach other humans, and any creature from a place of empathy.

Unlike many reviewers, this was actually my favorite in the series. It had less of the sort of middle-grade humor that makes me roll my eyes--and we really got away from making jokes about anxiety and other issues like that. I was really impressed with the sensitivity and complexity of the emotions and ideas explored here. People can have hidden complexity (for example, the bossy, somewhat diva-ish cousin actually struggles with homesickness and wants to call her mom every day when she is on a seaside vacation with Pip and another family). Also, the struggle for being taken seriously when you are a kid, even when you have ideas that grown-ups really should listen to ("Here's the think about being a kid: No matter how big or serious or sea-mounsterous your plans are, grown-ups can smash them to smithereens like a Manticore ina light-bulb shop.") I also loved the seaside/Boardwalk setting and the fantastical sea creatures (especially the spinnerseals). Great ambiance and would make a fun summer read.

[Megan (ReadingRover) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another cute installment to the Pip Bartlett series. Though I didn’t love it as much as the first two I did enjoy it overall. I think I just may be a little over Tomas and all his over preparation and allergies. Sometimes it’s cute and quirky but at others it’s annoying. Another thing that was a bit off about this particular book was that Callie was super home sick before they even got out to the vacation house which seemed out of character for her. She was also mopey the whole time they were there. She’s not usually cheerful but it just seemed overdone. I did like the magical creatures that were introduced. The job fish and the spinner seals were cute. So were the crabs and that clam thing(I can’t remember the names of those guys!) The magical critters are always pretty comical too. Overall it was a fun book. I’m hoping the next one in the series takes us back on the upswing. 3 stars.

[Sarah Hadd · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first two books in this series were so cute, this one didn’t quite make it in my opinion.

[Michele · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sadly a little disappointed in this installment. it felt short and like not enough backstory or emotional investment was happening. I feel like in the first 2 there was more interior monologue from pop and character development. also a human AND a magical creature mystery and helping. like they had that here with dr. grace and lady legs but also they didn't because it was so short and... huh, maybe it was different because it was harder to care about a slimekraken than a unicorn or the little fire puff balls? but also, shorter! bleh. not worth the $10 for a new copy anyway, for sure.

[Tessa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very cute. Fits in well with the rest of the series.

[Marc · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another Pip Bartlett adventure.
This time Pip has to use her powers to speak with magical creatures to free a tentacled monster (a la Free Willy) while on vacation.
I found some of the story involving giant man-eating sea monsters and hiding a region's entire population of spinner seals and other marine life unbelievable even for a children's book, but I'm sure kids will have no trouble suspending their disbelief. I'm not sure what the point of hiding the natural prey of a huge predator while actively working to save that predator and its family was meant to accomplish, but maybe that's just me.
Fun, quick read, and as always beautifully illustrated.

[Tina Christopher · Rating 4 out of 5]

I adore this series so very much and wish there were dozens of additional adventures. Pip is such a wonderful heroine with her bravery as well as her anxiety to talk to grown-ups and people she doesn't know. I love Tomas who is always prepared for the worst and in the most unexpected moments shows incredible courage.
The Guide to Sea Monsters was another ride through incredible imagination. I adored all the magical characters, their quirks, and their personalities. Listening to the audio is so much fun as you mostly end up chuckling the whole way through.

[James Biser · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pip Bartlett races into her adventures like a youngster visiting the zoo. She has the ability to understand and communicate with all of the animals (magical or otherwise) around her. Her trip to the ocean is a trip to observe the creatures that live there. Fortunately, her studies and her ability to communicate with what is there helps everyone (including her family that is with her) to be more safe and have more fun.

[Justice · Rating 4 out of 5]

So objectively this wasn't better than the first two, but it was EXACTLY what I was in the mood for, and I didn't even realize it.

I love weird, overenthusiastic kids, and we get plenty of that here! I liked seeing more of the triplets and the cousin, too - and seeing the cousin's own neuroses flare up in a plot-relevant way was surprisingly sweet. I would have definitely read more of the series if they kept writing them.

[Serenity · Rating 4 out of 5]

*I received a free review copy of this book from the publisher through my district library services*

This is another fun entry in the series. Pip and Tomas meet another slew of magical creatures, this time by the seashore. All the humor and adventure of the previous books. Fans of the series will enjoy.

[Erica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pip, Tomas, and his family along with Callie all are invited to take a trip because of Pip and Tomas' quick thinking and saving the Unicorns in the last book. When they visit the aquarium Pip hears voices and investigates to find that the Slime Kracken is unhappy- will they be able to reunite her with her family?

[Storm · Rating 2 out of 5]

First creatures, then unicorns and now our protagonists, Pip and Tomas, are going to deal with creatures under the sea. I was disappointed as I love undersea adventures, but this was forgettable as the emotional connection and story fell short this time compared to the previous 2 books.

[Carolyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pip is on vacation, and the aquarium’s prize Slimekraken is lonely! And something is vandalizing the boardwalk and leaving giant sucker marks! Can
Pip figure this out??

Yes. Yes she can. She even leaves a relatively low trail of mayhem behind her.

My favorite magical creatures were the Jobfish. They take their jobs very seriously and love to help and hold meetings.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute 3-4-5th grade book, lots of illustrations about magical creatures and their care. I like how the magical creatures are part of the everyday life. The Spinnerseals calling Marshmellow!! Cute.

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a cute story and I liked the characters, but there were just way too many magical creatures to be keep track of. If all the animals in the world are magical, wouldn't that make them all normal? Magic wouldn't even be a big deal!

[Miss Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pip and her best friends family are going on a sea side adventure where they meet an animal who has been separated from her family for many years and wants to go home. Can Pip and company help? Light hearted and fun. Elementary age readers.

[Brooke · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 - Another fun installment of Pip and Tomas's adventures. This series totally helped fire up my youngest to transition from strictly graphic novels to chapter books. They were fun to read with her.

[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

The third book takes Pip and Tomas along with Callie and Tomas's family to the sea shore for a vacation. They encounter new animals and save rare sea creature along the way.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

These are consistently cute and entertaining. They are probably below my older daughter’s reading level, but she’s still enthralled and my younger daughter loves them, too.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Appropriate for: age 10+

I really enjoyed this sequel It was so funny I laughed out loud, and it's hard for a book to do that. Pip is a strong character and a good role model for girls.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a delightful series, perfect for 8-12 year old kids.

[Tracy · Rating 5 out of 5]

My 6 year old and I really have enjoyed this series! It has a strong female lead that always wants to help magical animals in need.

[Cecilia · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was ok, but liked the two first books more.

[JustAButterfly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not quite as good as the second book, but still fun.

[Sylvia · Rating 5 out of 5]

We love Pip and Tomas and can't wait to see what over adventures they can get into. The boys and I are hoping it's dragons next!

[Gail · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun to read another adventure with Pip and Tomas!

[T&H · Rating 3 out of 5]

Listened on Pinna. Read this if you want to know more about a Slime Kraken.

[Teresa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Still very cute and my kids loved it but there was a distinct lack of unicorns. I think I might have only given the previous 2 books 4 stars because of the unicorns.