DIMS’ DICTIONARY OF DYNAMIC READS: Magical Coastal Picture Books


In the lead up to the silly season where, as everyone knows, the best present of all is a BOOK, it’s time to throw some scintillating options at you. This collection features content showcasing our reef and ocean life with a few surprises along the way. Click on title links to access more information for perfect summer reading. Enjoy!

A Is For Australian Reefs: A factastic Tour by Frané Lessac

This is an ABC book with a difference. It’s not simply a collection of alphabetised sea creatures but a colour saturated, detail imbued meander around our coral reefs which includes nomenclature (species names) and terminology. Random fun facts pop up on every page adding interesting and depth to one of the most biodiverse environments on the planet. Highly recommended.

Walker Books Australia, October 2022 ISBN: 9781760652258

Big World, Tiny World: Reef by Jess Racklyeft

Another memorable masterpiece highlighting ocean life in and around our beautiful reefs. Racklyeft combines lyrical verse with explosions of her trademark colour-bomb images, every page saturated in watercolour bliss that shifts our attention from the omnipresent universe, the heavens above, to where the seaweed bends and sways. We move with the fish at coral level zigging and zagging through jungles of light and mystery at the mercy of the moon and tide. Kids will love the shimmery foil effects and cutout star that prompts curiosity and wonder in this explore the world series.

Affirm Press, July 2022 ISBN: 9781922711977


Creatures of Camouflage and Mimicry by Sami Bayly

Okay, so not all of the creatures in this title are underwater ones but it’s included because some of the best mimics and camouflagers in the business are marine creatures. Bayly’s devotion to the animals of planet Earth and her magnificent portrayal of them via informative narrative and stunning illustrations is becoming legendary. Check out her series of Amazing Animal Stories and keep an eye out for a dedicated Sea Creatures title coming out soon!

Lothian Books, September 2023 ISBN: 9780734421371


Koko And The Coconut by Turia Pitt and Celestine Vaite and Emilie Tavaearii

Vividly illustrated fun story about a robust little coconut crab and his coming of age, aka his first crack of the coconut. Koko has to overcome seemingly insurmountable odds to locate, reach, dislodge, and finally crack his nut before success is enjoyed. It doesn’t happen overnight – well it does in this story’s timeline – but figuratively, this is a telling tale of perseverance, tenacity and courage; attributes Turia has had to live by many times over. Beaut focus on creatures of the tropic islands (which incidentally, are the only places you’ll find coconut crabs!).

Puffin Books, January 2023 ISBN: 9781760892944

Mama Ocean by Jane Jolly and Sally Heinrich

This sumptuously illustrated tale is book-ended by a gleaming, expansive, clean-as-a-mirror ocean. Mama Ocean presides over it all, tumbling and trailing through the tides, abundant with life. But when her mirth turns to sadness, the sea creatures fret. They bring her gift after gift in an effort to restore her spirit but the gifts only worsen her plight for, they are not jewels of the natural ocean rather the awful residual of human inconsideration and laziness. A fanciful yet hard hitting depiction of the demise of our oceans if our neglect of them continues.

MidnightSun Publishing, September 2020 ISBN: 9781925227659


Moonfish by Graeme Base

The moonfish is a mythical creature, living beneath the dragon-moon. It seems a safe and sacred place but it wasn’t always so. Moonfish lived in uncertain times. Orphaned, rescued and ridiculed, he wasn’t like the others, did not fit in. So, he set off to discover exactly where he did belong. His journey took him through ominous places with fearful encounters until his heart returned him home where the murderous herons threatened all that was dear to him. And then, rather like the phenomenal transformation of the ugly duckling, we learn the true form and character of Moonfish. With spectacular illustrations rich in movement and form, swimming in beautiful surrealism and emotion, this fable-like story explores identity and sense of place in exquisite detail. Highly recommended.

Puffin Books, October 2019 ISBN: 9780143791409


Rock Pool Secrets by Narelle Oliver

One of the last picture books created by Australian picture book legend, Narelle Oliver, Rock Pools emanates the sensations, sights and sounds youngsters might encounter as they wonder a coastal shore line. Craggy cratered landscapes encrusted with barnacles and limpets greet us at low tide; a good time to explore. At first colours and shapes are hard to discern but look closely and you will see a jigsaw of life. Crustaceans, anemones, seaweeds; each with their own special spot within the rockpools. Each bearing their own secrets which are hidden behind flaps of rock and seaweed and expulsions of ink! Vibrant pops of colour assist in this seek and find mission against a backdrop of shades and textures (created by linocut drawings) that belie treasure detection. Hurry, the tide is on the rise. Can you spot them all in time? I’ve had this book for some years, revisiting the magic of the rock pools as though they were old friends. Thick sturdy pages and timeless narrative ensures its longevity as does the strong allure of the sea so brilliantly imbued within this book.

Walker Books Australia, April 2017 ISBN: 9781922179357

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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