A First Book of the Sea

In a remarkable collaboration, Nicola Davies and Emily Sutton celebrate the sea in all its changing moods — and the place it holds in our hearts and minds.

Ours is a blue planet. The oceans cover more than two-thirds of its surface and constantly calls to us to play, explore, and dream. Our fascination with the sea is as endless as our means of enjoying it — whether building sand castles, navigating by the stars, or observing strange and beautiful marine creatures. In a volume brimming with information, Nicola Davies and Emily Sutton capture the magic and majesty of the ocean with stunning words and pictures. Poems about manta rays, flying fish, and humpback whales mingle with verses about harbors, storms, and pearl divers. Glimpses of life in the Arctic and Antarctic Oceans flow into spreads about tropical islands, coral reefs, and ancient shipwrecks on the seabed. Teeming with colorful details, this treasure trove of knowledge will be pored over by adults and children alike, and its exploration of the vast mysteries of the sea will captivate readers for years to come.

“Sea life is depicted in an amazing variety of forms; humans are shown as diverse in skin tone, hair color, size, and age. As in the sea, there's something in this volume's abundance for most everyone, and it will amply reward repeat visitors, who will benefit from its largesse. --Kirkus Reviews (starred review) This charming poetry collection takes readers on an exploration of the ocean, from a day at the beach to global migration stories...This nicely illustrated and enjoyable poetry collection is recommended for most libraries, especially where aquatic life is popular. --School Library Journal”

Sea life is depicted in an amazing variety of forms; humans are shown as diverse in skin tone, hair color, size, and age. As in the sea, there's something in this volume's abundance for most everyone, and it will amply reward repeat visitors, who will benefit from its largesse.
—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

This charming poetry collection takes readers on an exploration of the ocean, from a day at the beach to global migration stories...This nicely illustrated and enjoyable poetry collection is recommended for most libraries, especially where aquatic life is popular.
—School Library Journal

Sutton’s watercolor art offers sweeping, loose lines in cresting waves, sands, and skies, with sharper details in ship masts, sails, and delicate corals. A gentle compendium to read between sea visits.
—Publishers Weekly

Nicola Davies trained as a zoologist and has written many award-winning books for children, including Bat Loves the Night, Tiny Creatures: The World of Microbes, The Promise, and I (Don’t) Like Snakes. She lives in Wales.

Emily Sutton is the illustrator of The Christmas Eve Tree by Delia Huddy and two other picture book collaborations with Nicole Davies: Tiny Creatures: The World of Microbes and Many: The Diversity of Life on Earth. Emily Sutton lives in York, England.

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