In the Ocean: A Nature Trail Book

Our sons enjoy many of Maurice Pledger's books -- and this one with AJ Wood is our favorite for its well written text to accompany the drawings. some of the other books have much weaker text, and some have animals that do not look all that different (the mammals are often very similar). This is a nice story where the little dolphin looks for his family, all the while watched over by his mother.

My daughter received this book when she was 19 months old and it immediately became a favorite--an incredible compliment considering all she does is read books. The illustrations are vibrant and incredibly stimulating--something to find on every inch of each page. 5 months after receiving the book my daughter still adores it. She now knows the name of every creature in the book, down to the nautilus, neons, and sea slug. This book has definitely spawned a love of the ocean in her. And the format of the book, with its different textures that morph from one subject to another with the lifting of a flap is brilliant. We'll be buying every book by Maurice Pledger!

My son recieved this book as a gift and he simply loves it! He's not quite 2 and he knows all the fish in the book and has even made up a few (he insists the spotted fish is a "giraffe" fish!). But - the real proof of the learning value of his book happened just yesterday. We were at the Nature Center, and they have a salt-water tank. As soon as he saw it he raced to it, pointing, excited and telling me, "Mama! A lionfish! A lionfish!" And sure enough - there was a "stripy-spiky lionfish", just like in the book! I couldn't believe at his age that he could make the connection between the picture in the book and the real thing, but he did! Obviously, this book has real educational value. I recommend it to ALL parents! And I'm here to buy a few other "Nature Trail" books today...

What a GORGEOUS book! "Little silver dolphin" is lost; join him on an underwater journey of discovery as he searches for his family. This book is instantly engaging mostly due to the tactile treasures and OUTSTANDING illustrations, but the prose is pleasing and educational too. "The tiny, SHINY flying fish go swimming through the air. Now lift the flap and you will see what else is leaping there." The reader lifts the flap, "A sailfish with fins of BLUE. And Mother Dolphin's somewhere too!" In smaller print, the author includes lessons on numbers and counting, "How many flying fish can you count?" and "Can you find the mother dolphin?" This is a "touch and feel" book with lessons on marine life, colors, numbers and counting. The images, beautifully rendered, are beset with pattern and fine details, not to mention the union between the "touch and feel" items and the illustrations on the "half-page flaps" are exceptional. Additional textures include: FURRY sea otter, SCALY shinny fish, PRICKLY pink coral, LUMPY lobster shell, NEON darting fish, SMOOTH skinned shark, and SOFT silver dolphin. Recommended for 4 to 8 years old, but my 1 year old adores this book and finds the textures and images irresistible. "In the Ocean," is a fantastic book!

We found this to be a delightfully illustrated book that captivated our three year old daughter. The book follows the journey of a young dolphin as it searches for its mother. On the way the dolphin encounters colorful fish and sealife. The book encourages counting, has beautiful textures incorporated with the illustrations, and overall is very interactive. Be prepared to read this wonderful book over and over to your child!