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Life in the Ocean: The Story of Oceanographer Sylvia Earle
Sylvia Earle first lost her heart to the ocean as a young girl when she discovered the wonders of the Gulf of Mexico in her backyard. As an adult, she dives even deeper. Whether she's designing submersibles, swimming with the whales, or taking deep-water walks, Sylvia Earle has dedicated her life to learning more about what she calls "the blue heart of the planet." With stunningly detailed pictures of the wonders of the sea, Life in the Ocean tells the story of Sylvia's growing passion and how her ocean exploration and advocacy have made her known around the world. This picture book biography also includes an informative author's note that will motivate young environmentalists.
Life in the Ocean is one of The Washington Post's Best Kids Books of 2012
Life in the Ocean is one of The Washington Post's Best Kids Books of 2012
32 pages, Hardcover
First published March 13, 2012
19 people are currently reading
1543 people want to read
About the author
Claire A. Nivola
18 books38 followersClaire Nivola writes: “I was born in 1947 in New York City. When I was a year old my parents bought an old farmhouse in The Springs on Long Island—the seashore town that appears in Elisabeth (FSG). The “country,” as it still was then; animals; being read to; and reading were among the passions of my childhood. The daughter of an artist father and mother, I drew and sculpted from earliest childhood and took art for granted, like breathing and walking. I was also a conscientious student. After attending Radcliffe College, where I majored in history and literature, I stayed in the Boston area for ten years. Soon after graduating, in 1970, I illustrated my first children’s book. My father had been asked by Fabio Coen, head of children’s books at Pantheon and a fellow Italian, if he would illustrate The Disobedient Eels and Other Italian Tales by Maria Cimino. My father gave the job to me. Over the next eight years, Fabio Coen asked me to illustrate The Messy Rabbit, written by my mother Ruth Nivola, and Save the Earth by Betty Miles, a book on ecology whose editor, a young woman named Frances Foster, was in the office next door at Knopf. During those years I also tried my hand at mural painting and graphic design, and occasionally exhibited my paintings and sculptures in private and group shows. I did all this as an extension of how I had grown up, with little idea of building a career.
“In 1980 I moved back to Manhattan and joined the art department at Newsweek magazine. In 1982 I married, a year later my son was born, and three years after that, my daughter. Being a mother absorbed my heart and intellect. Unlike many of my contemporaries, I stayed home with my children and did little work of my own. When they were older, in 1992, as a rare exception, I took on a commission for fifty-three bas-relief panels telling the story of man’s changing relationship to the Tennessee River for the Chattanooga Aquarium. I worked on a raised table in the playroom off the kitchen after my children went to bed at night and my children often commented on panels before they were shipped out for casting.
“In 1994, great good fortune chanced to put me back in touch with Frances Foster, now, twenty years later, a revered children’s book editor. I illustrated for her Tell Me a Real Adoption Story (Knopf) by Betty Jean Lifton, and since she has moved to Farrar, Straus & Giroux with her own imprint, we have worked together on four more books: Elisabeth, my telling of my mother’s story of her childhood doll; The Mouse of Amherst (FSG) by Elizabeth Spires, and my own two books, The Forest (FSG) and Planting the Trees of Kenya: The Story of Wangari Maathai Amherst (FSG) Frances has been my invaluable friend and inspiration.
“In recent years, I have also worked with publishers in Boston, illustrating The Friday Nights of Nana by Amy Hest for Candlewick Press, and for Houghton Mifflin, The Flag Maker by Susan Campbell Bartoletti and The Silent Witness by Robin Friedman.
“Having spent many years reading, often more than once, the books I loved as a child to my own children, and discovering new ones, my appreciation for the best of children’s literature has only grown. Writing for children is a serious business. Even if the result is to delight one’s small readers, the words and images are destined to become a vivid and lasting part of a child’s live experience.”
“In 1980 I moved back to Manhattan and joined the art department at Newsweek magazine. In 1982 I married, a year later my son was born, and three years after that, my daughter. Being a mother absorbed my heart and intellect. Unlike many of my contemporaries, I stayed home with my children and did little work of my own. When they were older, in 1992, as a rare exception, I took on a commission for fifty-three bas-relief panels telling the story of man’s changing relationship to the Tennessee River for the Chattanooga Aquarium. I worked on a raised table in the playroom off the kitchen after my children went to bed at night and my children often commented on panels before they were shipped out for casting.
“In 1994, great good fortune chanced to put me back in touch with Frances Foster, now, twenty years later, a revered children’s book editor. I illustrated for her Tell Me a Real Adoption Story (Knopf) by Betty Jean Lifton, and since she has moved to Farrar, Straus & Giroux with her own imprint, we have worked together on four more books: Elisabeth, my telling of my mother’s story of her childhood doll; The Mouse of Amherst (FSG) by Elizabeth Spires, and my own two books, The Forest (FSG) and Planting the Trees of Kenya: The Story of Wangari Maathai Amherst (FSG) Frances has been my invaluable friend and inspiration.
“In recent years, I have also worked with publishers in Boston, illustrating The Friday Nights of Nana by Amy Hest for Candlewick Press, and for Houghton Mifflin, The Flag Maker by Susan Campbell Bartoletti and The Silent Witness by Robin Friedman.
“Having spent many years reading, often more than once, the books I loved as a child to my own children, and discovering new ones, my appreciation for the best of children’s literature has only grown. Writing for children is a serious business. Even if the result is to delight one’s small readers, the words and images are destined to become a vivid and lasting part of a child’s live experience.”
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 209 reviews
May 24, 2020
As the author's note points out, Earle's accomplishments weren't just amazing 'for a woman of her time' but for *any* marine scientist. This is not a long biography, but it is gracefully told, and inspiring, with lovely art. Includes an introduction, note, and bibliography.
February 5, 2013
This is an intriguing biography of a woman who has spent much of her life in, around and under water. I love that the story depicts a strong, independent woman who is both passionate about her field of study, but also highly successful, too.
The narrative is just the right length to teach children about her accomplishments without being too detailed, boring, or overwhelming. The illustrations are wonderful, too, and we paused reading the story several times to allow our girls to pick out their favorite things.
I liked the author's note at the end, but I must say that the environmental message is a bit heavy-handed and preachy, almost to the point of detracting from the story.
The narrative is just the right length to teach children about her accomplishments without being too detailed, boring, or overwhelming. The illustrations are wonderful, too, and we paused reading the story several times to allow our girls to pick out their favorite things.
I liked the author's note at the end, but I must say that the environmental message is a bit heavy-handed and preachy, almost to the point of detracting from the story.
April 3, 2020
This is wonderful! I don't have time to write a review just now but highly recommend to anyone interested in a pioneering woman of science and in the wonders of the ocean. Beautiful book about learning, perseverance, curiosity, wonder, and conservation. My kids (ages 4 & 7) also loved it.
January 26, 2020
Beautifully told and beautifully illustrated, this picture-book biography of Sylvia Earle, the oceanographer, environmentalist and author - her books range from adult titles on marine ecology (
The World Is Blue: How Our Fate and the Ocean's Are One
) to children's picture-books with a similar theme (Dive: My Adventures In the Deep Frontier - who has done so much as an advocate for the seas, is as engaging as it is informative. A biologist and botanist before she knew what the words meant, Sylvia grew up on a farm in New Jersey, where she spent her time observing the flora and fauna of the nearby pond, stream and fields. When her family moved to Florida, to a little house right on the Gulf of Mexico, she "lost her heart to the ocean," becoming fascinated by the teeming life in the world under the water. It was a passion she would follow in school and after, becoming a world renowned scientist and aquanaut, and a fierce proponent of protecting the life in the ocean.
The third of Claire A. Nivola's picture-book biography projects that I have read, following upon Planting the Trees of Kenya: The Story of Wangari Maathai , which she both wrote and illustrated, and Emma's Poem: The Voice of the Statue of Liberty , which she illustrated for another author, Life in the Ocean is a title that I greatly enjoyed reading. The author's descriptive prose gives readers a good feeling for Sylvia, especially in her early years, when she was "too curious to be afraid," and creates in them great sympathy for her passionate attachment to the seas. As with her other books, Nivola's artwork is just lovely, with beautiful use of color - I loved the varying shades of blue she used in the ocean landscapes, depending upon how deep the waters were, and what time of day it was - and charmingly stylized human figures. I think I will have to track down more of her work - perhaps Orani: My Father's Village ? In any case, this is one I would highly recommend, to all young ocean lovers, and to children who enjoy reading stories about pioneering explorers and scientists.
The third of Claire A. Nivola's picture-book biography projects that I have read, following upon Planting the Trees of Kenya: The Story of Wangari Maathai , which she both wrote and illustrated, and Emma's Poem: The Voice of the Statue of Liberty , which she illustrated for another author, Life in the Ocean is a title that I greatly enjoyed reading. The author's descriptive prose gives readers a good feeling for Sylvia, especially in her early years, when she was "too curious to be afraid," and creates in them great sympathy for her passionate attachment to the seas. As with her other books, Nivola's artwork is just lovely, with beautiful use of color - I loved the varying shades of blue she used in the ocean landscapes, depending upon how deep the waters were, and what time of day it was - and charmingly stylized human figures. I think I will have to track down more of her work - perhaps Orani: My Father's Village ? In any case, this is one I would highly recommend, to all young ocean lovers, and to children who enjoy reading stories about pioneering explorers and scientists.
November 12, 2012
I think this book hits an awkward spot in terms of recommending it to kids. It doesn't have enough information to satisfy older readers, but the vocabulary and sentence structures would be really challenging for a younger reader. I suppose I'd put it in the 3rd to 5th grade range.
The story is a very basic outline of the life of oceanographer Sylvia Earle, covering briefly her childhood on a farm, her family's move to Florida near the ocean, her love of exploring ocean life, and some of her professional feats (mostly how deep she dove and how long she stayed underwater).
There's a lot more information in the Author's Note that follows the text. I wish more of it had been integrated into the story. There's a sad message in it, too, about how poorly humans treat the oceans: "...we have dumped lethal nuclear waste, industrial waste, pollutants from underwater mining, and just plain garbage... Are we thinking the sea is vast and deep enough to take all this and more?"
The real treat of this short biography is the art. Each page charmingly conveys the vastness of the oceans and the variety of life found there, as well as Earle's immersion (literally!) in her studies.
The story is a very basic outline of the life of oceanographer Sylvia Earle, covering briefly her childhood on a farm, her family's move to Florida near the ocean, her love of exploring ocean life, and some of her professional feats (mostly how deep she dove and how long she stayed underwater).
There's a lot more information in the Author's Note that follows the text. I wish more of it had been integrated into the story. There's a sad message in it, too, about how poorly humans treat the oceans: "...we have dumped lethal nuclear waste, industrial waste, pollutants from underwater mining, and just plain garbage... Are we thinking the sea is vast and deep enough to take all this and more?"
The real treat of this short biography is the art. Each page charmingly conveys the vastness of the oceans and the variety of life found there, as well as Earle's immersion (literally!) in her studies.
August 19, 2017
This is an jaw-droppingly beautiful book - the illustrations, the sentences, and the illustrations (yes I do think they're that good). I can't wait to share this book with my 3rd and 4th graders, I think during the week I'm covering women in science.
August 8, 2020
I love how young Sylvia started out with nature study, complete with journal. ❤ This is an inspiring story.
February 22, 2024
Gorgeous and moving and so, so lovely. (Read once on my own, read out loud to little sister.)
May 2, 2012
Life in the Ocean: The Story of Oceanographer Sylvia Earle by author/illustrator Claire A. Nivola is a lovely new picture book biography of a pioneer of in the field of ocean studies.
If you have never heard of Sylvia Earle, she is a scientist and conservationist whose goals in life have been to delve deeply into the oceans and learn as much as she can, and then share her passion and knowledge with others. As Nivola quotes in her extensive Author’s Note in the back matter, Earle realizes, “You can’t care if you don’t know.”
As so appropriate for a children’s book, after a brief introduction to the immenseness and importance of the ocean, Nivola describes Earle’s childhood. Sylvia Earle spent her early years on a farm in New Jersey, where she began to study all the living things around her. If she had stayed there, things might have turned out very differently. Instead, when Sylvia and her family moved to Clearwater, Florida when she was twelve. Suddenly, she had a beautiful ocean to explore right in her own backyard. Her life was changed forever.
Nivola has allowed her subject to tell her own story without excessive crafting. Nivola’s delicate and whimsical watercolors are lovely, and they rise to a new level in the underwater scenes, where Sylvia becomes a sea creature herself.
Life in the Ocean is will be a hit with children who are interested in oceans, in science, in history and/or in conservation. The incredible story of Sylvia Earle’s life is sure to inspire future explorers.
See my full review at Wrapped In Foil
If you have never heard of Sylvia Earle, she is a scientist and conservationist whose goals in life have been to delve deeply into the oceans and learn as much as she can, and then share her passion and knowledge with others. As Nivola quotes in her extensive Author’s Note in the back matter, Earle realizes, “You can’t care if you don’t know.”
As so appropriate for a children’s book, after a brief introduction to the immenseness and importance of the ocean, Nivola describes Earle’s childhood. Sylvia Earle spent her early years on a farm in New Jersey, where she began to study all the living things around her. If she had stayed there, things might have turned out very differently. Instead, when Sylvia and her family moved to Clearwater, Florida when she was twelve. Suddenly, she had a beautiful ocean to explore right in her own backyard. Her life was changed forever.
Nivola has allowed her subject to tell her own story without excessive crafting. Nivola’s delicate and whimsical watercolors are lovely, and they rise to a new level in the underwater scenes, where Sylvia becomes a sea creature herself.
Life in the Ocean is will be a hit with children who are interested in oceans, in science, in history and/or in conservation. The incredible story of Sylvia Earle’s life is sure to inspire future explorers.
See my full review at Wrapped In Foil
June 20, 2014
1. "These Seas Count" by Allison Formento & illustrated by Sarah Snow, 2013.
2. I selected "These Seas Count" as my twin text because I thought it was a great example of action steps students could take after reading about Sylvia Earle's passion for the sea and sea creatures. After learning about Sylvia Earle's work, I know some students will be very excited and energetic about the topic of the ocean, and be curious about how this relates to them. Even though we don't live near an ocean, we do have many lakes, rivers, and streams in the area, so students could be encouraged to take steps to help our local bodies of water, just like the students in "These Seas Count" helped clean up their beach.
3. The structure of this book would fall into the text pattern of description and chronological sequence. The life of Sylvia Earle is described with the help of beautiful imagery. The book begins with her as a young girl and continues into her adult life to highlight the miraculous adventures she went on through her work as a biologist and botanist. I believe webbing would be a great way to connect these two texts. Students could use both books to brainstorm and then create a web to show all of the ways the ocean and its creatures impact our lives everyday.
4. (February 15, 2012). Booklist. http://www.booksinprint.com.leo.lib.u...#
2. I selected "These Seas Count" as my twin text because I thought it was a great example of action steps students could take after reading about Sylvia Earle's passion for the sea and sea creatures. After learning about Sylvia Earle's work, I know some students will be very excited and energetic about the topic of the ocean, and be curious about how this relates to them. Even though we don't live near an ocean, we do have many lakes, rivers, and streams in the area, so students could be encouraged to take steps to help our local bodies of water, just like the students in "These Seas Count" helped clean up their beach.
3. The structure of this book would fall into the text pattern of description and chronological sequence. The life of Sylvia Earle is described with the help of beautiful imagery. The book begins with her as a young girl and continues into her adult life to highlight the miraculous adventures she went on through her work as a biologist and botanist. I believe webbing would be a great way to connect these two texts. Students could use both books to brainstorm and then create a web to show all of the ways the ocean and its creatures impact our lives everyday.
4. (February 15, 2012). Booklist. http://www.booksinprint.com.leo.lib.u...#
February 20, 2013
In some respects this picture book biography of Sylvia Earle is as much the story of the ocean as it is a story about the groundbreaking scientist. The author takes readers through Sylvia's early years, growing up on a farm in New Jersey where she was fascinated by the natural world around her, especially in the nearby pond. When the family moved to Florida, she quickly fell in love with the ocean, a passion that provided her with a career and a lifelong focus. The story left me enraptured and saddened by the swiftness with which humans are plundering the ocean's resources and filling it with garbage. Back matter includes an author's note that describes Sylvia's concern that ignorance is at the root for our casual misuse of the ocean. I shut the book and reflected on how hard it is to inspire others to care about issues about which they know so little, and how perfectly this book provides reasons to care about the great blue seas that surround us. The illustrations are filled with blues and images of whales frolicking in the waters as well as the wonders found on the ocean floor. There is nary a scrap of trash, a floating island of plastic and garbage, or oil spills in these pages; instead, the illustrator has painted the ocean as it can be again if we stop treating it disrespectfully--healthy, brimming with life, and ever-fascinating.
January 26, 2016
There are plenty of books on oceanography and explorers, but this book stole my heart with its soft-hued, detailed illustrations and easy-to-understand, inspiring text. Nivola documents Sylvia’s early childhood from growing up on the Gulf Coast, where Sylvia fell in love with the water, to the historic walk along the ocean floor. This book will make you fall in love with the ocean and its beautiful creatures, and inspire kids to follow their passions.
I love Nivola’s use of language. She just doesn’t tell the reader that Nivola grew up on a farm but makes you feel like you were really there, taking in the sights and smells. Poetic.
Nivola also is able to explain scenes in a way that kids can understand and even find riveting.
I found it fascinating the way Nivola was able to incorporate phrases, that were quotations, into the text. Sometimes it seemed as if the quote may have been the inspiration for the paragraph and accompanying illustration.
Click here for the original review and activity ideas at Flowering Minds.
I love Nivola’s use of language. She just doesn’t tell the reader that Nivola grew up on a farm but makes you feel like you were really there, taking in the sights and smells. Poetic.
Nivola also is able to explain scenes in a way that kids can understand and even find riveting.
I found it fascinating the way Nivola was able to incorporate phrases, that were quotations, into the text. Sometimes it seemed as if the quote may have been the inspiration for the paragraph and accompanying illustration.
Click here for the original review and activity ideas at Flowering Minds.
February 20, 2013
When I was teaching 2nd-3rd grade with Marianne McWhirter, she read aloud from Eugenie Clark: Shark Lady. I always enjoyed how well-rounded that book was as a biography. Nivola's telling of Sylvia Earle's interest in the ocean provides a strong main character who is a woman scientist. Earle's interests and punctuated moments from her career provide the structure for the book, and go a long way toward humanizing the water so inhospitable to humans.
The painting style was enjoyable, with a breathtaking use of watercolor pointillism on some pages. Some of these pages are so filled with small animals and objects that it is easy to get lost in the frame and sit just looking. I wish she had carried this emphasis on the wide horizontal panorama through the entire book. WHen she switches to a new layout with the text down the vertical side, I think it cuts the proportions too closely and the images aren't as inviting. Out of the last three spreads, the two that get narrowed down are the ones I wish were panoramic, and the one that is panoramic isn't as interesting to look at.
The painting style was enjoyable, with a breathtaking use of watercolor pointillism on some pages. Some of these pages are so filled with small animals and objects that it is easy to get lost in the frame and sit just looking. I wish she had carried this emphasis on the wide horizontal panorama through the entire book. WHen she switches to a new layout with the text down the vertical side, I think it cuts the proportions too closely and the images aren't as inviting. Out of the last three spreads, the two that get narrowed down are the ones I wish were panoramic, and the one that is panoramic isn't as interesting to look at.
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August 11, 2018This picturebook is for older kids than the ones I've been reading recently.
The opening page is about the oceans generally and is maybe a bit of a dry introduction. Then we begin the biography proper -- which dwells mostly on experiences of wonder, which I think works well as a way to keep kids engaged and stir their own curiosity (and possibly love) for the underwater world.
The Author's Note talks about how "Sylvia was born in 1935. Most of the damage done to the ocean has taken place during her lifetime." Some of the stuff damage the note lists I knew, others I didn't or had forgotten -- like how "we have filled the the sea with new sounds, too---drilling, explosions, boat engines, sonar. For creatures like the whales in this story, exquisitely sensitive to sound waves, these human interferences can cause great suffering, disorientation, strandings, possibly even death."
The opening page is about the oceans generally and is maybe a bit of a dry introduction. Then we begin the biography proper -- which dwells mostly on experiences of wonder, which I think works well as a way to keep kids engaged and stir their own curiosity (and possibly love) for the underwater world.
The Author's Note talks about how "Sylvia was born in 1935. Most of the damage done to the ocean has taken place during her lifetime." Some of the stuff damage the note lists I knew, others I didn't or had forgotten -- like how "we have filled the the sea with new sounds, too---drilling, explosions, boat engines, sonar. For creatures like the whales in this story, exquisitely sensitive to sound waves, these human interferences can cause great suffering, disorientation, strandings, possibly even death."
July 17, 2017
Sylvia Earle first lost her heart to the ocean as a young girl when she discovered the wonders of the Gulf of Mexico in her backyard. As an adult, she dives even deeper. Whether she's designing submersibles, swimming with the whales, or taking deep-water walks, Sylvia Earle has dedicated her life to learning more about what she calls "the blue heart of the planet." With stunningly detailed pictures of the wonders of the sea, Life in the Ocean tells the story of Sylvia's growing passion and how her ocean exploration and advocacy have made her known around the world. This picture book biography also includes an informative author's note that will motivate young environmentalists.
March 27, 2013
I feel like I have just met the Rachel Carson of the latter part of the 20th century. Interesting format for a biography of Sylvia Earle with illustrations that seem like they are telling a picture book story rather than a life story. I remembering really enjoying Nivola's Orani: My Father's Village for that same sense that there is more story behind the pictures than the text can tell. As is becoming more typical, the Author's Note goes on to tell more about Earle's activism in speaking out for the protection of oceans. Those final two pages seemed aimed at an adult audience and were so full of problems that need to be addressed, that I felt like they deserved their own book.
April 23, 2018
This biography of Oceanographer Sylvia Earle was not only informative for me personally (I admit to never having heard of her), but including lots of wonderful details about how amazing our oceans and seas are. Some of the text is a bit long and might be overreaching for young ones, but I think most 3rd-5th graders would find this book pretty fascinating. I think it can inspire further reading and research about how truly important oceans are to our planet. I also love that it highlights a woman's accomplishments, particularly when this was a field dominated by men. It's important for kids to read about that!
August 3, 2020
I might want to read it in a few sittings for my class instead of all at once, but the first page would be excellent to read out loud on the first day, it mentions in a simple way why oceans are important
Possible vocab word: investigate, bioluminescent
Interesting information about whales, that we know more about other planets and other ocean facts
The author's note at the end has details about who Sylvia is in real life and information on how we harm the oceans. It also has small pictures of different kinds of fish in the ocean on one page. This is good for content, but not for images for kids in drawing projects.
Possible vocab word: investigate, bioluminescent
Interesting information about whales, that we know more about other planets and other ocean facts
The author's note at the end has details about who Sylvia is in real life and information on how we harm the oceans. It also has small pictures of different kinds of fish in the ocean on one page. This is good for content, but not for images for kids in drawing projects.
July 22, 2016
I'd never heard of Sylvia Earle before this children's biography of her. I love how well the author communicated the way Earle was so excited about observing marine creatures. Nice illustrations, too.
February 7, 2017
I consider this book appropriate for 2nd grade. There is quite a bit of text throughout the book, but there are also a lot of illustrations. This book explains Sylvia Earle's life as a child and as an oceanographer. Very interesting and easy for children to understand! Biography.
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February 12, 2018This is an eye catching book about Sylvia Earle who feel in love with the world inside the ocean. This book seems to be engaging for the older reader, possible 3 grade up. The pictures are very well done and the simple text is great if trying to read it to the younger reader.
January 7, 2020
The word density in this one is such that I'd think it more appropriate for upper elementary (I had to abridge a bit to not lose our four-year-olds' attention), but the content is marvelous. The story is told in such a way to really evoke the wonder of the sea, and the illustrations are gorgeous.
December 21, 2012
Gorgeous biography of Sylvia Earle, the renowned oceanographer. Don't skip the fascinating author's note.
December 23, 2015
Gorgeous picture book about the life of Sylvia Earle. Inspiring and full of learning. A great read aloud for upper primary or an independent read for intermediate students.
August 30, 2021
Lovely book about the importance of our ocean, a woman who explored it (Sylvia Earle), and how we can and should learn about it and care about it so we take care of it.
The author’s note is informative and saddening in teaching children how badly we treat the ocean—like a trash can instead of like a wonderful, mysterious world we should treasure and protect. “Are we thinking the sea is vast and deep enough to take all this and more? There are areas of the ocean that contain more plastic than plankton. The ocean is simply not big enough.”
Claire Nivola is a wonderful writer and illustrator, and her other books that bring ecology to life—such as “Planting the Trees of Kenya”—are worth reading as well.
The author’s note is informative and saddening in teaching children how badly we treat the ocean—like a trash can instead of like a wonderful, mysterious world we should treasure and protect. “Are we thinking the sea is vast and deep enough to take all this and more? There are areas of the ocean that contain more plastic than plankton. The ocean is simply not big enough.”
Claire Nivola is a wonderful writer and illustrator, and her other books that bring ecology to life—such as “Planting the Trees of Kenya”—are worth reading as well.
December 22, 2021
Beautifully illustrated - I included it on my gazing-book shelf because it has seek and find opportunities. This book while a picture book is an example why picture books are for everyone. It is written at a 5th grade level and text heavy. A small child might not have the stamina to read or listen to the whole book in one sitting, but an older child would appreciate the information. Either way it is a beautiful biography about Sylvia Earle and how she became interested in exploring the oceans of the world and highlights some of her pioneering work. It is not a dry read with dates and timelines but reminds me of the childhood of Gerald Durrell.
September 27, 2021
Life in the Ocean is an incredible book about the true experiences of oceanographer Sylvia Earle. Sylvia found her love for the ocean as she was young and moved to Florida. She has spent her life dedicating her time to the wonders of the ocean and the endless amounts it of science it has to offer. One of the best parts about this book is the art work. Pictures play such a crucial part in telling a story. The art in the book looks like it was watercolor paint, the tiniest details catch your eye and get you lost into the idea of the big blue. This book would be great to use while educating young readers about the climate change and its effects on our oceans. The beauty of our planet is worth more than the pain it is in.
August 11, 2020
Her story is a fascinating one and I'm glad it's being told. This is clearly well researched and the quotes from her are awesome, as is the environmental message in the end and in the back matter.
I wish this were a little more approachable as a picture book. The illustrations are lovely but the first page is a blue circle with a big block of text, it doesn't exactly ease you into the book. I kind of wish the text was spread a little more evenly to avoid the big blocks. The illustrations are sweet and gentle, very noninvasive. I kinda wish some of the fish in the illustrations were labeled...at one point the book talks about a parrot fish, my kid asked which was the parrot fish and I had no idea. They are labeled in the back, but on that page it would have been nice.
I wish this were a little more approachable as a picture book. The illustrations are lovely but the first page is a blue circle with a big block of text, it doesn't exactly ease you into the book. I kind of wish the text was spread a little more evenly to avoid the big blocks. The illustrations are sweet and gentle, very noninvasive. I kinda wish some of the fish in the illustrations were labeled...at one point the book talks about a parrot fish, my kid asked which was the parrot fish and I had no idea. They are labeled in the back, but on that page it would have been nice.
July 24, 2021
The woman this story was written about, Sylvia Earle, sounds amazing. She accomplished so much & her genuine care for the environment really made an impact. I love learning about the oceans, so this was fascinating for me. The only reason I docked a star off the rating is because the arc of the story seemed to be on an upward path then ended abruptly, kinda leaving me hanging.
November 22, 2014
In a world encapsulated by water one always asks the question, what lies below. Claire A. Nivola takes us on a trip under the sea with Oceanographer Sylvia Earle in her book Life in the Ocean. Upon first glance at the cover of the jacket, I am immediately transfixed by the wonderfully rendered water color depicting a diver exploring a vast blue hue. The water color is rendered so whimsically it literally transcends you into this underwater world completely unlike our typical above sea landscape. The fish seem to swim in a rhythmically conducted traffic flow, allowing for Sylvia to swim in unison with the underwater creatures. Also by using water colors Nivola ironically renders Earle in her own professional work environment, water.
Life in the Ocean begins by expressing Sylvia’s upbringing, transitioning into adulthood, and how her experiences encompassed who she became. The story then continues by examining Sylvia’s career and accomplishments allowing factual information to play a large role in composing the story telling mechanisms. The book also uses direct quotes from Sylvia to give readers a greater feel for her personality and passion for marine life. The story continues in the same fashion providing readers of all ages an entertaining, story based on fact, and the study of life.
By skillfully implementing the fragility and vibrancy of water color, Nivola embodies an illustrative expression of ocean life. Also by accompanying her illustrations with a text as rich as the deep blue hue, Nivola is able to encapsulate a glimpse of a person’s life which is both entertaining and impactful. By allowing readers to learn about the ocean and some of the development of oceanography through her chosen subject of Sylvia Earle, Nivola takes readers on an informative and inspiring adventure through the depths of the ocean. Through careful consideration, investigative research, and considerate editing Nivola develops a story that can be appreciated by all readers. Yet, if sea life isn’t your thing, maybe the meticulous detail specific illustrations will spark your interest.
Life in the Ocean begins by expressing Sylvia’s upbringing, transitioning into adulthood, and how her experiences encompassed who she became. The story then continues by examining Sylvia’s career and accomplishments allowing factual information to play a large role in composing the story telling mechanisms. The book also uses direct quotes from Sylvia to give readers a greater feel for her personality and passion for marine life. The story continues in the same fashion providing readers of all ages an entertaining, story based on fact, and the study of life.
By skillfully implementing the fragility and vibrancy of water color, Nivola embodies an illustrative expression of ocean life. Also by accompanying her illustrations with a text as rich as the deep blue hue, Nivola is able to encapsulate a glimpse of a person’s life which is both entertaining and impactful. By allowing readers to learn about the ocean and some of the development of oceanography through her chosen subject of Sylvia Earle, Nivola takes readers on an informative and inspiring adventure through the depths of the ocean. Through careful consideration, investigative research, and considerate editing Nivola develops a story that can be appreciated by all readers. Yet, if sea life isn’t your thing, maybe the meticulous detail specific illustrations will spark your interest.
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