Review: Commotion in the Ocean

Commotion in the Ocean

Written by Giles Andreae

Illustrated by David Wojtowycz

Publication Date: 1998

Publisher: Orchard Books

ISBN: 978-1-84121-101-5

Summary/back cover:

There’s a curious commotion

At the bottom of the ocean

I think we ought to go

and take a look…

Come into the ocean for a noisy, rhyming animal romp your little ones will love!

I have several Giles Andreae books and intend to add to the collection. I personally don’t think this book is as good as some of his others. The illustrations are fabulous and the rhymes are fun. There is no story, though. The book has an introduction page and then it moves through the different creatures you might find in and around the ocean, such as turtles, sharks and polar bears. There are separate rhymes for each animal but they generally don’t link in with any of the other rhymes – sometimes the rhythm is completely different, such as a standard rhyme followed by a limerick, for example – and sometimes the poetry feels forced. These are really the gripes of a grown-up, though, and of little relevance to my kids who just love that I make Jaws “da-duh, da-duh” noises when I turn the shark page and tickle them on the tummy just like the mother octopus does to her young. At the end of the day it is what it is – a bright, cheery collection of rhymes that introduce aquatic life to youngsters.

My rating:  3.5 out of 5

Review written by team_s