At the Sea Floor Cafe

Peachtree is having a two week blog tour. Be sure to check out their blog.

TLA was such a great place to be last week. It was good to see many friends and make new ones. I signed books and spent some time with the terrific Peachtree people. The Austin SCBWI did a great job. The sourcebook was exceptional.

I met Lesley Bulion. We chatted and she signed my copy of her book. Talented and genuine–just like the book!

At the Sea Floor Café

Odd Ocean Critter Poems

By Leslie Bulion

Illustrated by Leslie Evans

Peachtree, 2011 

ISBN #978-1-56145-565-2

Ages 8-12

Nonfiction; poems

“Let’s visit a habitat shallow and deep,

And boiling hot, where acids seep,

And frigid and pressured and mountainy-steep,

Come explore the sea!”

So begins the poem invitation to Dive In! and explore the vast sea and the unusual creatures living there. Each poem provides facts about ocean animals in a variety of poetic styles and forms. A smaller inset section gives an explanation of the animal and its habits expressed in the poem. The extensive back matter explains the poem’s form and specifics about that style of poem. It also includes a glossary of science terms, websites, and other books to enjoy. An acknowledgment page attests to the author’s research.

The art is lovely and evokes the fun nature of the poems in the book without being intrusive. It’s done in linoleum block print and perfectly suits the whimsy of the poetry it illustrates. This is a fun way to introduce science into literature and involve readers in the awe of science through the odd, interesting life forms in a time when science is more important than ever.

This book would make a wonderful reader’s theater or group presentation. There’s a poem for every child and the science details are a fun addition. It’s a great choice for libraries, schools, or home. What a joyous combination: poetry and science.

Activity 1

Research one of the animals from the book. Write a report about that animal. Include the facts from the poem and add any new information you’ve learned from the research. Present the information in an interesting way.

Enchanted Learning has ocean animals here.

National Geographic Kids has some ocean animals. 

Activity 2

Choose a favorite or well-known sea animal and write a poem about it in one of the poetry styles from the book. Illustrate your own poem.

I’ve also written a number of teacher guides for other Peachtree nonfiction. See those here.

National Science Standard: characteristics of organisms; organisms and their environment

Book provided by Peachtree Publishers for their Blog Tour

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