Children's Books

Just in time for holiday giving: Order some of our best-selling books and toys for the young readers and budding marine scientists in your life.

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NEW: Flotsam, by David Wiesner, Doug Cushman (Illustrator). Houghton Mifflin Company (2006). Winner of the 2007 Caldecott Medal for outstanding children's books. "Though wordless, this intriguing book is a storytelling marvel. With stunning, meticulously painted watercolors, award-winning Wiesner tells the fanciful tale of a young boy who discovers an old-fashioned camera washed up on the beach. The developed film reveals fantastical underwater shots, including octopi reading in armchairs and elaborate cities built of seashells. Children will savor the magic of this surreal underwater world and the book's mind-bending conclusion." -- Child magazine's Best Children's Book Awards 2006. Ages 5-8.

NEW: George's Secret Key to the Universe by Stephen Hawking, Lucy Hawking, Gary Parsons (Illustrator). Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing (2007). Stephen Hawking, renowned physicist and author of the multi-million copy bestselling A Brief History of Time, and his daughter, Lucy, explain the universe to readers of all ages.  George's parents, who have always been wary of technology, warn him about their new neighbors: Eric is a scientist and his daughter, Annie, seems to be following in his footsteps.  But when George befriends them and Cosmos, their super-computer, he finds himself on a wildly fun adventure, while learning about physics, time, and the universe.  Gary Parsons' energetic illustrations add humor and interest, and his scientific drawings add clarity; there are also eight 4-page full-color inserts of scientific photos. Ages 9-12.

Octavia and Her Purple Ink Cloud, Donna Rathmell German, Doreen Rathmell, Connie McLennan (Illustrator). Octavia Octopus and her coral reef-sharing, sea-animal friends love playing camouflage games to practice how they would hide from a "big, hungry creature." Octavia, however, just cannot seem to get her colors right when she tries to shoot her purple ink cloud. Vibrantly colored and detailed illustrations add to the book's appeal, and unique back matter contains information about camouflage and protection, fun facts, and a painting activity. Ages 3-8.

NEW: The Visual Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs, by Dougal Dixon. DK Publishing (2005). Paperback. With more than 1,000 full-color photographs, diagrams, charts, cutaway drawings, and detailed illustrations in each book, DK's Visual Encyclopedias cover everything you've ever wanted to know about animals, dinosaurs, and science. Ages 12 and up.

Oh Yuck! The encyclopedia of everything nasty, Joy Masoff, Terry Sirrell. Workman Publishing Company, Inc. (2000). Kids love stuff that's gross. From the liquids, solids, and gases—especially the gases!—or their own bodies to the creepy, crawly, slimy, slithery, fetid, and feculent phenomena in the world at large, kids with a curious bent just can't get enough. Oh, Yuck! The Encyclopedia of Everything Nasty brings together, in one book, all the good things about some of the baddest things on Earth.

Exhaustively researched and impeccably scientific, yet written with a lively lack of earnestness, Oh, Yuck! is an ants to zits encyclopedic compendium covering people, animals, insects, plants, foods, and more. Ages 8-12.

Ocean (Eyewitness Book Series), Miranda Macquitty, Frank Greenaway  (Photographer), Frank Greenway  (Photographer). DK Publishing (2004) - An exciting and informative guide to the natural history, geology, and exploration of the world's vast oceans. Superb, color photographs of incredible submersibles, realistic models of the sea floor, and the remarkable animals and plants that make up marine life offer a unique "eyewitness" view of the ocean's hidden wealth. Ages 9-12.

Water Beds, Gail Langer Langer Karwoski, Connie McLennan. Tuck your little ones into bed with this soothing, restful story. Youngsters meet ten marine mammals, including sea otters and bottlenose dolphins, manatees and harbor seals, humpback whales and walruses, and learn about each animal's unique sleeping habits. Although the brief portraits are based on up-to-date scientific research, author Gail Langer Karwoski weaves the facts into simple, poetic language. Connie McLennan's rich oil paintings capture the ocean's habitats and its appealing creatures. The story invites children to drift into a peaceful sleep on the gentle waves of imagination. Paperback edition. Ages 4-8.

If a Dolphin Were a Fish, Loran Wlodarski, Laurie Allen Klein. "If a Dolphin Were a Fish" is the clever story of a dolphin who imagines that she is a fish, a turtle, a bird, an octopus, or even a shark or manatee. She (and the readers) learn just how special she really is and how special each of her other sea animal friends are too. The Creative Minds section has teaching trivia, crafts and games related to dolphins and some of her sea-creature friends. Paperback edition. Ages 4-8.

Gentle Giant Octopus, by Karen Wallace, illustrated by Mike Bostock. Brief text and accurate watercolor paintings describe how a female giant pacific octopus moves, protects herself, and lays her eggs. With its striking artwork, this will make an enticing read-aloud story for children interested in this fascinating sea creature. Ages 4-8. Candlewick Press.

"Bostock's thoughtfully composed watercolors are tactile, accurate and extremely attractive ... This seamless weave of text and illustration offers a welcome counterpoint to popular depictions ... of the octopus as deep-sea villain." -- Publishers Weekly

Awesome Ocean Science! Investigating the Secrets of the Underwater World, by Cindy A. Littlefield, Sarah Rakitin. Williamson Publishing; (Revised edition, 2006). There are so many mysteries of the deep left to explore and so much left to do to preserve the ocean’s gifts. Here is the perfect place to start! Chapters include subjects on waves and currents, changing shorelines, the ocean floor, and saving our seas. Descriptions and activities are included for each chapter area. Ages 7-14.

"Written in jaunty prose and illustrated with numerous humorous cartoons, this book offers children a hands-on introduction to the mysteries of the watery world." - School Library Journal

NEW: A Swim through the Sea by Kristin Joy Pratt-Serafini. Dawn Publications (2006). A 26-page board book for very young readers. From angel-to zebrafish by way of xiphosuran (no X marks the spot here!), this stunning menagerie of marine life is beautiful to look at and full of facts. Ms. Pratt wrote this, her second boo). while in high school. Age range: Infants-preschoolers.

NEW: Over in the Ocean: In a Coral Reef by Marianne Berkes, Jeanette Canyon (Illustrator). "The gorgeous illustrations in this 26-page board book deserve top billing. Polymer clay in vibrant colors was sculpted, sliced, pressed, and plied by the artist, then photographed to create the two-dimensional relief art of marine life. Each folio reveals a different species of swimmer, ten in all, against sea-inspired polymer backdrops that include swirls of aqua waves, orange and purple coral gnarls, and ribbons of sea grass in stunning chartreuse. The artist explains her process at the back of the book and gives parents and teachers tips on helping children create with polymer clay. Only after perusal of the art has been satisfied ... will one settle down to enjoy reading the book." -- Anne May. Age Range: Infants-preschoolers.

Order no: 1581173628

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