Oceans of Possiblities (and Books)

If you are a regular patron of your local library, or have been in the past, you are probably familiar with the summer reading program. Every summer libraries across the nation decorate, plan parties, book performers, and purchase oodles of prizes to encourage kids, teens, and adults to keep reading books and visiting the library.  Since 1987 the Collaborative Summer Library Program (CSLP) has connected libraries and librarians across the country so that we all use the same theme, slogan, and artwork for our summer programs. The CSLP provides tons of valuable resources for the consortium including unique artwork created by a renowned illustrator. For example, Jarret Krosoczka, Brian Lies, Brian Pinkney, and Scott Nash have been artists behind previous year's themes.

This year the theme is Oceans of Possibilities and the artwork was created by the Sophie Blackall.

I admit that there are years when I love the theme, the artwork, and the direction that the CSLP provides as far as planning. And then there are years when I feel constrained and unsure what to do. This year has actually been a lot of fun since there are so many interesting and fun things that you can do with the theme of oceans. Our library has made jellyfish in water bottles, mini coral reefs, sea glass candle holders, decorated with paper mache fish and paper bowl sea turtles. It has been so much fun and our patrons of all ages have been delighted. 

Ok, I have talked about themes and artwork, blah, blah, blah, but this post was meant to be about books. Specifically books that pertain to the 2022 theme, Oceans of Possibilities. As the librarian responsible for crafts, programs, displays, and storytimes it is always nice when the theme is fun and easy to promote. The theme, Oceans of Possibilities, brings to mind oodles of entertaining books for all age levels.

Let's start with picture books, since I have been planning ocean-themed storytimes for the past month.

I think it is important to always include the classics so I could not even imagine the summer without reading Mister Seahorse and A House for Hermit Crab by the preeminent author and illustrator, Eric Carle.
Yeah, I am pretty sure that I have mentioned Eric Carle picture books more than once. Come on, though, Eric Carle is a genius, and these books are not only beautifully illustrated, but they are also informative. How many children know that it is male seahorses that actually carry and deliver babies or that hermit crabs grow out of their shells and then look for new ones. These stories are also easy to translate into storytime crafts which is always a bonus. My storytime kiddos decorated their own hermit shell crabs and sea horses with markers, puff balls, glitter, sequins, foam stickers, etc. I always enjoy seeing the variety, how all the kids go about doing the craft in completely unique ways. 

I am pretty sure that I have mentioned having boys with a penchant for carnage in picture books. Honestly, I am not sure whether I should encourage this or not, but here are a couple of books that made my blood-thirsty six year old bust out laughing. If your little one will get upset by animals eating other animals you should probably steer clear of Ugly Fish. Also, if you are offended by the word bum or bothered by the idea of piranhas wanting to eat bums than I would definitely not check out the Blabey book. The majority of kids, though, (at least those that I have encountered) delight in the absurd and will be rolling on the floor laughing at both of these books. Blabey, who is the author of The Bad Guys juvenile series and also the

Pig the Pug picture book series, is a master at appealing to children while also giving them opportunities for a good giggle. Brian, the Piranha tries to encourage the other Piranhas to embrace his vegetarian diet. Eventually, they are willing to try fruit, but ultimately decide that "bum" is still better. 

Ugly Fish by Kara Larou is hilarious story about a ugly fish (who would have guessed) living in a fish tank that loves his solitary life until new fish appear. I don't want to give anything away, but Ugly Fish learns that company can be a fun thing, and then, not so much.

One of my favorite new author and illustrators is

Einat Tsarfati, I only recently became aware of Tsarfati's books (I just happened to see one in a bookstore) and I am so happy that I found them, especially considering this year's summer reading theme. Tsarfati is a brilliant artist whose illustrations contain wondrous detail that accompany her equally delightful text. It Could Be Worse has been my go-to-book for reading to my elementary class tours that would usually claim to be too old for a story.  In this story two shipwrecked sailors are floating along in the ocean on what is left of their ship. Albertini is, understandably, upset about their situation, but George is an optimist and keeps reminding Albertini that things "could be worse". Of course, every time George says this things get considerably worse. Readers of all ages will be in hysterics as the two sailors deal with flying fish with diarrhea, tone-deaf mermaids, ghost pirates, hungry whales, etc.

The Sandcastle is another book written and illustrated by Einat Tsarfati. The book features characters from one of Tsarfati's other books, The Neighbors. In this story the young red-haired protagonist is enjoying a day at the beach with her parents and decides to build a sandcastle. Not just any sandcastle, though, a fantastical sandcastle of such enormity that kings and queens from around the world move in and hold elaborate balls, games, and feasts. As with all of Tsarfati's books, the illustrations are whimsical and intricate and you will want to have a copy in your hands so you can appreciate all of the magical details on each page.

I could probably go on for several more pages describing picture books about the ocean but right now I do want to mention a few ocean-themed chapter books. The Flooded Earth Trilogy by Mardi McCondrie is an exciting sci-fi, dystopian adventure with a climate change twist that is sure to grab middle grade readers. It is the not-so distant future and in order to address world-wide drought caused by climate change scientists developed a machine that resulted in the earth being flooded.The planet-wide flooding has resulted in the navy taking control of what is left of America, billions of refugees whose homes are now underwater, and countless pirates roaming the expanded seas. These are books that I will continue to recommend and hope that I can get kids to check out, because I loved it. The premise and characters are intriguing and appealing and once you read the first book you are going to be chomping at the bit to find out what happens to twins, Will and Annalie, as they search for their missing father.

The last book I want to mention is a historical fiction set in Europe during the aftermath of World War I. There are so, so, so many books about WWII and young readers (as well as teens and adults) are fascinated by holocaust. I have enjoyed explaining to my younger patrons that there was a first world war that did not include Hitler and it also historically significant. Voyage of the Sparrowhawk by Natasha Farrant  is about two children whose lives are in turmoil following WWI. Together they set across the English Channel and into France aboard a narrow boat called the Sparrowhawk.  Voyage of the Sparrowhawk is an exciting adventure that is sure to capture the attention of young readers.

I know that there are countless more books that I could include in this post. I didn't even make it to teen or adult books. That will have to be my next post, I guess.  Anyways, I hope that this post inspires you to read some new books that revolve around the ocean. OR at least fish since I just realized that I mentioned two books that have nothing to do with the ocean. Obviously piranhas are freshwater fish and Ugly Fish takes place in a fish tank. Oops.