Michael Slack is a prolific illustrator and author and we will forever be sad that our all-time favorites of his works, Monkey Truck and Elecopter are out of print. However, there are lots of other fun choices, including Kitties on Dinosaurs for which there will be a sequel soon!, and this latest board book is no exception.
Slack’s bright blues, pinks, and greens take the youngest of listeners through the basic life cycle of the oceans, starting with enlarged specks of phytoplankton which soak up the sun’s rays and are eaten by the krill, and on up the food chain to the majestic whale. Starting with the krill, readers can open a flap on the creature’s belly to see its meal inside. There’s even a little classic Slack humor when the whale looms up behind the shark… only to turn the page and see the whale, of course, swallow down a sea of krill.
Gliding fish grin cheerfully with googly-style eyes and the sun shines placidly over the deep blue sea. The flaps are a little difficult to lift the first time and I recommend lifting and reinforcing them before circulation.
Verdict: A delightful introduction to the food cycle for young children, this is also sure to delight fans of Kevin Sherry’s I’m the biggest thing in the ocean and other gulp-tastic undersea adventures. Recommended.
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