Children's Book Reviews
Swim the Silver Sea, Joshie Otter
written by Nancy White Carlstrom
illustrated by Ken Kuroi
Philomel Books, 1993
The bond between mother and child is explored in this picture book by Nancy White Carlstrom. Joshie Otter wants to play and when his mother says, "Oh no, not today," he swims far away to try to find a playmate. But the seal pups are asleep and neither the walrus calves nor the puffins nor any of the other animals will play with poor Joshie Otter. Finally, he swims so far out that Joshie is lost in the dark scary sea. Lost, until over the waves he hears his mother's voice calling him with her comforting song -- "Swim the silver sea, Joshie Otter. Swim on home to me, Joshie Otter. While night stirs above, come to me, my love. And swim the silver sea, my Joshie Otter." Joshie follows that familiar voice until he is safe again with his mother. And after a good night's sleep, Joshie and his mother do play.
This bedtime lullaby is based on a song that Carlstrom sang to her own son Joshua and the music for the song is included. Carlstrom's gentle words and rhythm make this a comforting bedtime book for young children. Japanese artist Ken Kuroi's soft pastel illustrations are a perfect compliment to the text. Young children will recognize their own experiences and emotions in Kuroi's evocative drawings of Joshie Otter.
Nuts to You!
written and illustrated by Lois Ehlert
Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1993
Lois Ehlert has a talent for bringing nature to life. In an earlier title, Growing Vegetable Soup, a father and child plant seeds and grow the vegetables that are eventually made into a delicious pot of soup. In Feathers for Lunch, an escaped housecat unsuccessfully tries to catch a bird for lunch. This time, in Nuts to You!, Ehlert uses her distinctive artistry and beautifully simple poetry to tell the story of a child's encounter with a cheeky squirrel. After appearing on the apartment balcony, the squirrel digs up bulbs in the flower box and even manages to sneak into the apartment. He is lured out with peanuts and the spirited cry, "Nuts to you!" The story ends with the child's plan to keep nuts on hand, in the hope of another encounter.
The simple, rhyming text makes this a great book to read aloud to a story or circle time group. Ehlert's collage-style pictures are effective in a group setting, but also contain enough detail to make this an excellent browsing book. As in her other picture books, Ehlert creates a true likeness of various species in nature and many of the pictures are labelled. The book finishes with a section of factual information called "Squirrel Talk." Preschoolers and young school-age children will learn about nature while enjoying a good story.
Elizabeth Thornley is a librarian in the Children's Department of the Ottawa Public Library in
Ottawa, Ontario.
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This article first appeared in Interaction published by the Canadian Child Care Federation, Summer, 1994. |
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