Sea Star Wishes

From School Library Journal: Gr 1-4-Twenty whimsical, lyrical, informative poems celebrate life within, on, or near the sea. For example, "The hermit crab/the hermit crab/He never takes/a taxi cab/or sails a ship/or submarine/or rides a motorbike/machine." Some creatures featured in the verses, such as the gull and octopus, are likely to be familiar, but others, including the limpet and geoduck, may not be. Lighthouses, ferries, and fishing are Ode's subjects as well. Easy to read, these poems mostly rhyme, and they vary in format and length. Colorful full-bleed illustrations attract the eye, give context, and complement the spirit of the selections. All in all, an engaging nautical collection.

Publishers Weekly: Ode--a poet, writer, and children's performer--shares the wonders of the seashore, both natural and manmade, in a collection of 20 poems. The tone ranges from gently observant to comical, but both text and art are at their strongest during the book's more contemplative moments. A dramatically decorated stunt kite curves through the air like a swallow ("It circles/and lunges/lurches/dives/climbs/and plunges"), and elsewhere, jellyfish rise majestically from the deep . . . readers, whether coastal or landlocked, should enjoy this lighthearted take on eels, geoducks, tide pool denizens, and more.