Dianna Bonder

A musical underwater journey from A to 'Sea', we thought this book was adorably imaginative, and introduced us to many creatures and instruments that my little one hadn't really heard of before. She now walks around pretending to play her flute or her trumpet quite often. Every once in a while she even puts on her best octopus act.

I appreciate stories that help teach the ABC's and counting. She is at that curious age and this one stood out because it combined her early love for music and reading. It made for the perfect read for the past couple of rainy days.

I found it refreshing that this wasn't the typical 'A is for Apples' kind of book. There was actually a storyline with pictures that played to my daughters' inquisitive nature.

"What's that? What's that?" There was always something for her to discover on each and every page.

Even though this book is intended for children ages 4+, I think my two year old is proof that kids of all ages will enjoy this one too!… (altro)

This is an astonishing alphabet book meant for an older child. The detailed pages are reminiscent of Graham Base' s Animalia. Every page explodes with brightly colored illustrations of sea creatures playing instruments. Although the animals are personified, their detail and coloring is true to life. On the final pages of the book is a listing of hidden letters, starfish maestros, and words that begin with the featured letter on each page. There is a "Where's Waldo" component.

Each page is written in verse. Although the rhythm does not hold true for every page, it is still a pleasure to read aloud. Alliteration occurs when the author tries to list as many things as possible beginning with the featured letter on each page.
Because this book is about a symphony, every page features different instruments. Most instruments will be familiar to the reader: bassoon, cello, glockenspiel, and mandolins. There is more of a variation of sea creatures: dogfish, electric eel, flounder, Marlins and quahogs.

The vocabulary is highly enriched. There are wonderful color words such as lime-colored, leva-red, and ultramarine. There are delicious adverbs and adjectives such as languishing, eerily, radiant, noteworthy, gyrating, profound, rambunctious, and untimely. But the verbs are best of all: squeal, shriek, invoke, he, hypnotize jitter, inking, recline, unveils, and prance. There are also numerous words for sea creatures and sounds.

This book could be used to supplement any unit on vocabulary enrichment, music, alliteration, and ocean life. I could easily see this becoming a choral chant with added instrumental sounds. What a lot of fun a class would have with this wonderful book.… (altro)