Age 04-08. 5 Stars. Everyone should have at least one Noah’s Ark story, and Peter Spier’s version is one of the best available. It is especially well suited to children, with its wordless format and careful attention to visual detail.

Age 04-08. 4 Stars. This is another very nice introduction to realistic drawing, a little more advanced than Jennifer Lipsey’s books. Masiello is a children’s book illustrator, and has made his skill accessible by producing a very easy to use, detailed instructional guide to drawing many kinds of fish and underwater creatures. His step-by-step instructions break down the lines of each drawing into manageable steps, and the finished product is something any child (and most adults) can be proud of. this is an excellent supplement to cultivate a child’s interest in drawing skill as well as learning about underwater creatures.

Age 04-08. 5 Stars. An entrancing wordless fantasy about a boy who finds a magical camera at the beach…. The stunning imagery of this story is playfully surreal, and some children may be uneasy with the way it plays with reality. But for those who can enter into its fantasy world, the story is wonderfully enthralling, and any child who experiences it may find themselves looking for a camera in the waves the next time they visit the beach.

Age 08-12. 4 Stars. Mafatu, the ten-year-old son of a Polynesian chieftan, has always feared the sea…. As he approaches the edge of manhood, his fear prevents him from winning a place in his community. Realizing their indifference to him, he sets out to sea alone in his canoe, taking only his dog and a few tools…. At the end of his journey he returns to his village having proved himself a man…. No one having read this book should believe they have learned anything about the real Polynesia… [but] if a reader can accept that Call it Courage is a lesson not in history but in moral courage, they may benefit from the moral example this hero represents.

Age 04-08. 3 Stars. An introduction to an animal that children are often fascinated with, illustrated in Arnosky’s wonderful style with lots of information about the characteristics, habits, and varieties of sharks.