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The Sea of Sleep
A mesmerizing voyage into the nighttime sea--with spectacular, affecting paintings by bestselling artist Jim LaMarche and bestselling author Warren Hansen!
Baby Otter is sleepy after a long day of play. Now he cuddles in his mama's arms as calm, silvery waters rock him gently toward sleep. But there are many wondrous things to see before he gets there. They drift past leaping dolphins and schools of swimming fish. And there's the loving, beaming moon, who rests her friendly face on the water's sparkling surface. All the while, jewel-like stars light their way as they glide through the night toward morning.
Baby Otter is sleepy after a long day of play. Now he cuddles in his mama's arms as calm, silvery waters rock him gently toward sleep. But there are many wondrous things to see before he gets there. They drift past leaping dolphins and schools of swimming fish. And there's the loving, beaming moon, who rests her friendly face on the water's sparkling surface. All the while, jewel-like stars light their way as they glide through the night toward morning.
26 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 2010
1 person is currently reading
32 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
December 21, 2017
This tranquil book will rock your little ones to sleep. The artwork is beautiful and the words are soothing.
March 9, 2021
Lilting, poetic text is paired with luminously beautiful illustrations in this soothing bedtime book from author Warren Hanson and artist Jim LaMarche. As the narrative describes the eponymous sea of sleep, on which dreamers drift until morning, the accompanying artwork depicts a mama and baby otter navigating the deep blue waters at night...
I was not familiar with Warren Hanson before picking up The Sea of Sleep, which I sought out largely because I am an admirer of illustrator Jim LaMarche's work, and wanted to see more of it. From a visual perspective, this book is a joy, as the artist skillfully utilizes a palette of deep blue hues, adeptly plays with light, and depicts two utterly charming otter characters. The text was also appealing, with a cadence that was soothing and peaceful, poetic but not overly reliant on rhyme. Recommended to fellow fans of Jim LaMarche, and to picture-book readers looking for beautiful, soothing bedtime books.
I was not familiar with Warren Hanson before picking up The Sea of Sleep, which I sought out largely because I am an admirer of illustrator Jim LaMarche's work, and wanted to see more of it. From a visual perspective, this book is a joy, as the artist skillfully utilizes a palette of deep blue hues, adeptly plays with light, and depicts two utterly charming otter characters. The text was also appealing, with a cadence that was soothing and peaceful, poetic but not overly reliant on rhyme. Recommended to fellow fans of Jim LaMarche, and to picture-book readers looking for beautiful, soothing bedtime books.
January 19, 2011
Peaceful ocean setting, beautiful illustrations and a sweet otter mother/child combo provide the background for this bedtime story. Sadly, the text didn't sway me. It wasn't that it didn't rhyme (I'm not a fan of the "stretch rhymes" that are sometimes built for the sake of picture book creation)or that the poetry wasn't well-written. It was just that together, it didn't bond for me. Not one that I would bring to a nighttime storytime...yet I would recommend for parents looking for new bedtime options.
January 10, 2021
A calming poem inspired by the susurrus of the ocean. This would relax me. My kids weren't interested.
July 18, 2024
Lovely prose and poem verses help us see the ocean through the eyes of an otter mom and baby.
January 11, 2011
I saw this while pulling books this morning and it instantly caught my eye. “Sea of Sleep”—to a dedicated sleep fan like me, that concept sounded lovely.
The dreamlike illustrations feature a mama and baby sea otter floating together through a peaceful ocean. The text is unmemorable (maybe that’s the point? To bore kids to sleep?). I think Sea may have worked better as a wordless picture book.
The dreamlike illustrations feature a mama and baby sea otter floating together through a peaceful ocean. The text is unmemorable (maybe that’s the point? To bore kids to sleep?). I think Sea may have worked better as a wordless picture book.
October 10, 2021
I picked this one because of our recent discovery of the illustrator and because otters are my second favorite animal. I loved most of the pictures, especially the one with a dolphin rainbow. My 3 yr old was confused by the portrayal of the moon as a woman, he kept asking why it had a face, what it was, etc. The text didn't flow well for me and was choppy and disjointed. So the illustrations get it to 2 stars for me but I don't expect we'll read it again.
December 15, 2019
The illustrations are absolutely stunning, gorgeous, beautiful, serene. Earned the 4th star for sure.
The text didn't do much for me, but maybe it's just that it's not what you'd expect from a picture book. It's really more of an adult-level free verse poem, slight rhyme and inconsistent beats. I didn't know how to hear it in my head. And poetry almost never clicks for me anyway.
The text didn't do much for me, but maybe it's just that it's not what you'd expect from a picture book. It's really more of an adult-level free verse poem, slight rhyme and inconsistent beats. I didn't know how to hear it in my head. And poetry almost never clicks for me anyway.
March 17, 2018
Loved the way the illustrations paired with the story in this book!
July 10, 2019
A very sweet lullabye perfect for bedtime. LaMarche's illustrations are pure magic.
May 2, 2025
Illustrations were beautiful; language was ok
September 6, 2025
If elevator music were a picture book
January 4, 2017
Lovely illustrations, lyrical text.
April 11, 2013
In this story a mama otter rocks her baby otter to sleep while telling him about the world around him. The pictures in this book are so calming and beautiful. I didn’t care for the story so much; the story line was very basic. The book need give some insight to the environment that surrounds the otter and I thought that was important. I would use this book inside my classroom when discussing different types of environment where animals live. This book is appropriate for a read aloud for all ages, I think when turning this book into a mini lesson in my classroom I think it would be more suitable for students in grades 2nd – 5th
September 5, 2010
The Sea of Sleep is a alluring, beautifully written bed time story, with captivating illustrations. As baby Otter is safely held in Mama Otter's arms and is rocked to sleep, Mama tells baby about the world around them. From the moon's glow and the blanket of stars above them to the songs of the sea they hear below them.
Mama Otter tells baby that the sea is very old and wise, and has been around for millions of years. Teaming with life and has been sailed on by many sailors. Tonight The Sea of Sleep enfolds them in her arms and gently rocks them as they drift away to sleep.
Mama Otter tells baby that the sea is very old and wise, and has been around for millions of years. Teaming with life and has been sailed on by many sailors. Tonight The Sea of Sleep enfolds them in her arms and gently rocks them as they drift away to sleep.
December 2, 2010
The Sea of Sleep is a alluring, beautifully written bed time story, with captivating illustrations. As baby Otter is safely held in Mama Otter's arms and is rocked to sleep, Mama tells baby about the world around them. From the moon's glow and the blanket of stars above them to the songs of the sea they hear below them.
Mama Otter tells baby that the sea is very old and wise, and has been around for millions of years. Teaming with life and has been sailed on by many sailors. Tonight The Sea of Sleep enfolds them in her arms and gently rocks them as they drift away to sleep.
Mama Otter tells baby that the sea is very old and wise, and has been around for millions of years. Teaming with life and has been sailed on by many sailors. Tonight The Sea of Sleep enfolds them in her arms and gently rocks them as they drift away to sleep.
April 20, 2011
My 10 year old really liked it, both the refrain and the illustrations, but I agree with other reviewers that both the text and the illustrations don't break a whole lot of new ground or really go anywhere. Now I guess for a soothing nighttime book, that might not be a bad thing, but I wouldn't have read through it word for word if I hadn't been reading it out loud to my daughter.
October 16, 2010
A mother otter and her child float along in the Sea of Sleep. LaMarche's illustrations are beautiful ( I particularly liked the Moon), but the text is just OK. The word choices were uninteresting and the refrain wasn't memorable.
August 7, 2011
Well, this was a nice, quiet bedtime book with very lovely illustrations. The problem for me was that it wasn't very interesting. I think it is good for young children and parents looking for a clming text to read to little kids though.
September 10, 2025
A bed time story of a mother otter and child as they float in the sea of sleep and the wonders they witness as both drift and search for the perfect spot to sleep as the day fades away into the night.
October 8, 2010
Beautiful! Love the otters and the moon pictures.
October 9, 2010
Beautiful illustrations of a baby sea otter and its mother getting ready for sleep. Calming text and blue-toned pictures add to this lovely ocean-themed lullaby.
October 14, 2010
Beautiful Illustrations
December 16, 2010
beautifully illustrated and written...will soothe youngsters to sleep!
March 8, 2011
Illustrations were nice & the mother otter & baby were adorable but everything else was just so-so.
April 15, 2012
My son loved the pictures, not so much the text.
February 1, 2015
Too cute, I love otters and the illustrations are simply beautiful. A cross somewhere between a bedtime story and a lullaby.
March 5, 2013
Amazing artwork
Currently Reading
August 24, 2013I think the book will be about how sea animal sleep
September 17, 2013
Calm, peaceful bedtime story.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews