Customer Reviews

Into the Sea

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

My grandson, Cameron Howard, has checked this book out from the library on numerous ocassions. Despite his generally responsible attitude toward returning books in a timely manner, he just can't get this book back when it's due. Why? Because he is busy reading and re-reading the book. He is captovated by the pictures. He is infactuated with the text and dazzled by the illustrations. He called me up to see if I could get him this book. This seven year old made sure I knew the exact spelling of the author's name and the illustrator's name! It's a hit among the 7 year old crowd!

The artwork lured me to this book. Each page has a marvelous rendition of a sea turtle's nesting saga. The storytelling is accurate but lyrical so even the youngest children will be captivated. I highly recommend it for parents and grandparents to give to the children they love--especially if you're headed for the beach!

Excellent, informative read about a sea turtle's life from birth to giving birth as an adult turtle. Great pictures!

I bought the book for a five year old girl and she thoroughly loved it. The illustrations are worth the price.

Into the Sea has bright, beautiful pictures. The text is accurate nature science and provides many details about the sea turtle's life. The climax of the book ends with the sea turtle returning to the beach where she herself was hatched to lay eggs after 20 years. It gently introduces the idea of the food web and that only 2 out of an entire brood of hatchlings will survive to lay eggs. A nice nature and science book with an introduction to environmental and conservation for children up to grade 3.

Very timely shipment and the book was in condition as stated. I will definitely be buying from this person again. Thank you

Into the Sea traces the life of one sea turtle, from her hatching at dawn, through her perilous journey toward a dangerous life in the sea, until she returns to the beach where she was hatched to lay her own eggs. Guiberson's sympathetic descriptive text explains many of the habits of sea turtles, allowing the young reader/listener to understand the experience of this interesting animal. Alix Berenzy's vivid illustrations enhance the reading experience by accentuating the beauty of the turtle and her undersea environment. After drawing the reader into sympathy with the turtle, the author gently introduces the concept of endangerment by mentioning that "If nothing destroys the [100] eggs... perhaps one or two [hatchlings] will get past the crabs and the sea birds, the fish and the fishing nets, and like their mother, will return to lay eggs on the same sandy beach before making their way back into the sea." For older readers, a brief author's note gives more information about sea turtle endangerment.

This well-written, beautifully illustrated story is ideal for introducing young readers to the characteristics of sea turtles. The story format makes it a good transition from storybooks to scientific literature, and the beautiful pictures will draw younger readers in. It's a great read-aloud or read-alone.

Into The Sea completes my collection of children's books on sea turtles. Some of these have been so anthropomorphic that the reader will learning nothing of sea turtles. Others have been excellent summaries of a species' complicated life history and a good introduction to sea turtle conservation concerns. This book, written by Brenda Guiberson and illustrated by Alix Berenzy, fits the latter category.

The last tiny green sea turtle in nest escapes the beach and nearshore predators, and grows to an adult size. She experiences, of course, the famous "lost years." At one time, she is captured by a shrimp trawler, but escapes because of the TED (turtle excluder device). Finally, she returns to the beach of her hatching, to lay her own clutch of eggs in the sand.

My only critical comment would be the note that Guiberson has the sea turtle thinking, as she returns to that natal beach to lay her own eggs, "The turtle seems to know that she has come back to the same island where she was born" (p. 22). Obviously, there is no evidence that a sea turtle has ever "known" that she returns to the same beach where she hatched. The debate over the contribution of learned and genetic cues is still ongoing. However, when Guiberson has the tiny turtle "smelling the sand" (p. 3), this could be that cue that permits the adult to make that determination.

Overall, a magnificent children's book. I plan to obtain additional copies to share with K-3 teachers. The last page details a number of additional conservation issues. I hope people pay attention...

I love this book! The beautiful illustrations will enchant children and adults alike and are sure to spark a young reader's interest in sea turtle conservation. The text itself is an enjoyable read that still manages to remain factual and informative.