Customer Reviews

Seashells by the Seashore (Sharing Nature With Children Book)

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Seashells by the Seashore had my five and seven year olds running to find shells they had already collected to discover their names. To their delight, the shells they had were featured in the book. What I particularly like about the book is its interactive nature, encouraging children to go beyond the pages and explore the seashore searching for the shells they had read and learned about. My children are planning to bring the book on an upcoming beach vacation, and the pull-out shell reference card, an added bonus.

"Sue walks along the seashore/warmed by the sun./Picking up seashells one by one..." Author, Marianne Berkes, takes readers on a wondrous seaside adventure in her third picture book, Seashells By The Seashore. Come count the beautiful shells, learn their names, and watch your collection grow on the lefthand border of each two page spread as you walk along the beach..... Ms Berkes lilting, rhyming text is engaging and complemented by Robert Noreika's captivating watercolor illustrations. Together, word and art send you to the beach on a hot summer day, and you'll almost be able to feel the sand between your toes, hear the crash of the waves, and smell the salty sea air. Additional information about each shell and the mollusks that live inside can be found at the end of the book, and young nature detectives, ages 4-8, will revel in this joyous, fun-filled hike along the shore.

Berkes's has done it again and this time the subject of her book is one of my favorite nature items! A truly informative book; I can finally name all the sea shells I have thanks to the descriptions within the story and glossary at the end. The unique set up of this book identifies each shell as the main character finds them which can be used to promote counting in young children, and memory/matching games for older children. Berkes also includes questions at the end to foster further investigation in the reader. The pull-out, waterproof shell identification chart merits a field trip to the beach. Noreika's breath taking watercolor illustrations illuminate the shoreline from morning to dusk. The book's poignant ending instills the value that a gift from the heart is better than a monetary one.

I've been searching for this book for years in every seashore community I've been in. This book is just perfect for kids from 2 all the way to adulthood. We adults love to look for shells and identify them too. I bought several books to distribute on our annual get together at the beach. The illustrations are wonderful and actually go with the text. I like the counting and addition of one new shell each page. Great book for anyone who loves the seashore and the search for seashells. That's all of us, right?

Charmingly written by Marianne Berkes and featuring the artwork of Robert Noreika, Seashells By The Seashore is a beautifully illustrated color picturebook story, written in simple rhyming verse, about a young girl who combs the beach collecting various and fascinating different shells. The importance of conservation and living in harmony with nature is alluded to, in a wonderful, very highly recommended picturebook story that comes with a tear-out seashell identification card for budding collectors.

My 4 yr. old granddaughter loves to listen to me read this book, and she looks through all my shells to find the one that is featured on each page. There's a sidebar where the new shell is added with each turn of the page, and there's a picture of each shell. she takes delight in memorizing the names and pictures--kitten shell, olive shell, pin shell, etc.

This item was exactly what I expected. The item came within a week or so. All aspects of this purchase were satisfactory.

Seashells by the Seashore incorporates many important and different themes that children may enjoy: counting, rhyming, collecting shells, sharing a hobby with a grandparent, multicultural friendship, and care of the earth. The addition on each page of a new shell enhances the book. The explanation of each shell , as well as, general introduction to collecting shells is also welcome. The artwork compliments the story beautifully. A fun book that could be used successfully in a Story Tim and/or with an individual child.
Julienne Marks, Youth Services Librarian

Marianne Berkes honored our bookfair with her appearance at out Bookfair Family Night where she shared her new book Seashells by the Seashore. If you are able to get her to come visit your school you will not be disappointed. She is well prepared, full of enthusiam, and very open with the students. She brings shells that are in the book and incorporates them into her presentation as she shares the book. Afterward she spoke to the kids individually and interacted with them as she signed her books. The rhyme and counting format of the story works very well with the wonderful illustrations. As she did in Marsh Music
Marianne gives the child more information at the end of the book about the different shells in the story. I like the way the Grandmother was depicted. The paperback book has a great laminated pull out shell identification chart. It would be a hard choice which to buy the hardcover or softcover; so I bought both and the students in our school will enjoy this story for years to come. It combines well with other stories about the sea to make a well rounded theme or with books by Joanne Ryder to show the love of nature by these two authors.

Marianne Berkes has created a delightful work of "faction" for young readers and listeners. Sue collects seashells as a gift for her grandmother. Using rhyming prose, twelve different shells are named, described and pictured. Information about the formation of the shells by sea animals is included as the reader counts from one to twelve.

Ms. Berkes visited my school recently and spoke, read and sang to students from pre-kindergarten 3-year-olds to third graders. She is a wonderful and energetic presenter! Amoung her many props were the actual shells mentioned in the book. Her presentation was lively and fun for all and students were totally engaged. Each group was left wanting to spend more time with her. We will be anxious to have her return when her next book is released.