Title: The Deep
Author: Tim Winton
Illustrator: Karen Louise
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: Tricycle Press
ISBN-10: 1582460248
ISBN-13: 978-1582460246
Themes: Fear, Courage, Water, Holidays, Family, Water, The Ocean, The Beach, What are you scared of?
There are a number of great ocean books out there (check out Under The Ocean by Boisrobert & Rigaud or Commotion in the Ocean by Andreae & Wojtowycz or Mister Seahorse by Eric Carle). This book doesn’t reflect on the ocean as a resource, or as something that needs to be saved, but instead it tells a story of a family’s connection to the ocean, a connection that many of us may relate to.
Tim Winton’s Book tells the story of Alice, a little girl who is afraid of the deep water at the beach. While out with the family she tries to go out to the deep water, but finds herself too scared. Alice is afraid of the water where she can’t see the bottom of the blue water.
One day while in the water she is approached by some sea creatures who help her overcome her fear of the deep and rejoin everyone in the ocean.
This is a simple story with beautiful illustrations and believable characters, quite beautiful.
[rating:3.5]