Frances Wolfe

I think this book is cute. It doesn't have *much* of a takeaway, but it *could* potentially be a good book to introduce an aquatic science unit or something of that sort.
The language that is used through is calm and easy to follow. Specifically on pages 1 and 2, it says, "sunbeams sparkl[ing] like diamonds on water". The illustration also perfectly represents the text. This figurative language allows students to explore and make connections with what they are reading. The illustrations definitely enhance the story and encourage the calming mood of the story. For example, I also like how on the last page there is an illustration of a girl writing, and the text says, "Where I live... the SEASIDE". It gives the reader closure of exactly where it is that she lives and ties the whole story together.
There isn't much of a plot to the story, it is kind of just information thrown at you- so that's a small fault I saw in this writing. I feel this was intentional for the kind of story that it is, but it kind of bored me in a respect. At the same time, the pace of the story was good. The ideas were well organized, on each and every page, but just very broad and open to interpretation.
The big idea or message that can be taken from this book is the idea to respect where people come from. It is important to be open minded to the way they do things/ and why they do them in that way. Everybody lives their life by their own terms and it's important to be knowledgable and mindful of where other people come from.… (mehr)