My Little Ocean, written by Katrin Wiehle, reviewed by Klaudia Janek

Student Reviewer: Anika P.
Summary: My Little Ocean by Katrin Wiehle is a board book with a strong emphasis on the illustrations. There are only a few words and brief sentences that go along with the pictures. The sentences are short and easy to understand, which is optimal for a children’s book. The illustrations are based on digital art and everything is depicted in two dimensions. Representing the animals in their natural habitats in a simplistic manner aids little children to grasp the author’s ideas and message. Furthermore, the illustrator picked muted colors to fit the style of the book. It is made out of 100% recyclable materials, which makes it very environmentally friendly- a big bonus for the book! The look of recycled material along with the muted colors encourage “little readers to enjoy nature, inside and out!”

Straight Talk for Librarians: As far as the content goes, the book provides insight into the life of three animals, a seagull, a crab, and a seal. It does a good job of introducing underwater life to young children. From seals to spoonbills, and eels to starfish the author incorporates plenty of different species. Depicting them next to each other clearly shows their differences and similarities. The content even goes as far as briefly mentioning high and low tide, another important factor associated with the ocean. Moreover, in all the illustrations the animals are smiling and look genuinely happy, which sets an overall positive tone. Portraying the animals as happy will cheer up the children and make them enjoy reading and looking at the book. The last two pages complete the book well and on a positive note. A seal, a crab, and a seagull wave their wings and fins eagerly, saying good-bye to the reader. Ending the book with a funny and immersive illustration and text is very effective and leaves a positive impact on the reader!