I Hear You, Ocean

Submitted by TBoudreau on
Author
Kallie George
Illustrated by
Carmen Mok
Vancouver, BC: Greystone Kids, 2022
36 pp., hardcover & ebook, $22.95 (hc.)
ISBN
9781771647397 (hc.)
9781771647403 (ebook)
Grades
Preschool -grade 2
Ages
Ages 3-7
Review by
Chloe Humphreys
Excerpt

Rumble, rumble.

I hear you, Pebbles,

tumbling together.

You fill the beach

with shiny gems.

An evening spent at the seaside is a riot for the senses as two boys explore the beach together. First they listen to the roaring waves, imitating the water’s movements with their bodies as it crashes against rocks. While lifting stones, the boys hear a crab scuttling across the sand and watch as its orange claws wave. Soon they’re sitting and eating a snack, hearing the sand crunch under their legs, hoping it doesn’t slip into their food. Finally, as the sun goes down, they listen to the ocean’s evening lullaby of rippling seaweed, barking seals and rumbling pebbles before falling asleep in their parents’ arms.

George’s text is simple yet evocative, giving each facet of the seaside the boys encounter its own distinct sound, perfect for reading aloud. Mok’s illustrations highlight the diverse colours, textures and shapes found at the beach, further engaging the senses and inspiring readers to notice details about their real-life natural surroundings.

I Hear You, Ocean celebrates the simple pleasure of enjoying nature with all of your heart and senses.

Highly Recommended
Reviewer

Chloe Humphreys works as a Youth Services Librarian at Surrey Libraries in beautiful British Columbia.