“Big as a bus, and smaller than seeds, billions of babies are born to the sea…
No matter where they live, what color, shape or size, one day ocean babies grow up,
just like you will!”

MORE ABOUT THE BOOK

ISBN 0 7922 6669 2

ALA Booklist
“Nakata’s cheerful watercolor paintings clearly illustrate the book’s ideas while creating a beautiful undersea setting, bright with colors, teeming with varied creatures, and studded with intriguing details. Many books present information in this format, but few manage to stay as focused on the topic and sensitive to the intended audience as this one.”

Kirkus Reviews
“A beautiful peek at the marine circle of life. Large spare text layered over simply rendered watercolors highlight the diversity of animal life found in the sea. ‘Big as a bus, and smaller than seeds,’ the opposites found among ocean animals present themselves: single or multiple births, born live or oviparous, traveling to find food or waiting for food to come along. The use of familiar vocabulary and comparisons brings it all to the level of a young child. The last four pages offer a paragraph of information about each featured animal next to a thumbnail reproduced from the corresponding text. Nakata's artwork perfectly fits the text: Soft colors and muted details have the reader seemingly looking through the water at the animals. A touching look at birth and perfect for reminiscing about the births of loved ones.”

Publishers Weekly
“Rose’s text takes on a gentle, rocking tone as she compares and contrasts the many kinds of aquatic offspring. The lightheartedness and luminescent colors of Nakata’s artwork synchronize swimmingly with the mood of the text—whatever she paints seems to dance on the page. Those for whom babyhood is not such a distant memory will want to dive in many times.”

Here are some questions to help you find out how ocean babies compare to land babies.
 
Which ocean babies drink milk from their mothers’ body? Which land babies?

Which ocean babies are born from eggs? Which land babies?

Which ocean babies are born live? Which land babies?

Which ocean babies move from habitat to habitat? Which land babies?

Which ocean babies change color to match their surroundings? Which land babies?

Which ocean babies are called “calves?” Which land babies?

Which ocean babies breathe air like land babies?

In the book, you’ll find—

Species: sea otters, whales, harp seals, red crabs, sea turtles, orcas (killer whales), angelfish, walruses, gray whales, blue whales, predatory tunicates, anemone clownfish, hermit crabs, Adelie penguins, sea jellies

Habitats: Sandy Beach, Rocky Shore, Open Ocean, the Deep, polar seas and ice, Coral Reef, island

Facts related to science concepts including: 
adaptation
bioluminescence
camouflage
defenses
feeding
life cycle
migration
parenting
reproduction
symbiosis