Secrets of the Ocean: 15 Bedtime Stories Inspired by Nature

by Alicia Klepeis, Kaja Kajfez (Illustrator), Neon Squid

Overview

A beautifully illustrated collection of 5-minute bedtime stories about the wildlife found in seas and oceans around the world.

Every ocean contains a thousand secrets… In this charming anthology of children’s stories by Alicia Klepeis readers will be guided under the waves to meet the amazing animals that live there. In one story an orca grandmother teaches younger members of the pod how to find the best fish, while another looks at a mimic octopus as it changes appearance to disguise itself from different predators. Kids will be thrilled by the tale of an otter and her cub playing in a kelp forest, and marvel at a jellyfish that looks like a fried egg!

Other stories feature swimming iguanas, diving penguins, deep-sea anglerfish, albatrosses in love, leaping dolphins, sleepy dugongs, majestic whales, hungry sea turtles, ancient sharks, and marching crabs! All of these marine animals and their habitats are brought to life with impressive skill by illustrator Kaja Kajfež.

Each story in Secrets of the Ocean is based on the real biology and behavior of these amazing wild animals, and at the end of each tale readers will find out more about the science that inspired the story. So as they drift off to sleep, they will know a little bit more about the world around them.

The cover features a timeless design with colorful foil and a cloth texture, making this book the perfect gift.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781684493814
Publisher:	St. Martin's Publishing Group
Publication date:	10/01/2024
Series:	Nature Bedtime Stories
Pages:	160
Sales rank:	489,919
Product dimensions:	8.60(w) x 10.10(h) x 0.80(d)
Age Range:	5 - 8 Years

About the Author

Alicia Klepeis loves to research fun and out-of-the-ordinary topics that bring the world to young readers—from amazing animals to extreme environments. Alicia began her career at the National Geographic Society. She is the author of more than 200 children’s books, including Go Wild! Frogs; Gutsy Girls Go For Science: Astronauts; Polar Bears & Penguins: A Pretty Cool Introduction to the Arctic and Antarctic; and Secrets of the Forest: 15 Bedtime Stories Inspired By Nature. A former middle school teacher, Alicia loves doing school visits. She lives with her family in upstate New York.

Kaja Kajfež was born in a small, charming city of Varaždin, Croatia. She developed a love of drawing as a child - her mum used to draw with her for hours which really sparked her interest in illustration. Besides doing her dream job, Kaja loves to take long walks in nature, explore different historical periods, scroll through old picture books, listen to online concerts, and spend time with her dog.

Editorial Reviews

"A compelling set of stories that will fascinate animal lovers, and a recommended purchase." —School Library Journal

From the Publisher

09/01/2024

Gr 1–4—From sea otters to sperm whales, marine iguanas to a jellyfish shaped like a fried egg, a wide variety of marine animals are featured in these 15 stories. Each entry contains a narrative telling of a time in an animal's life, be it a single day or a span of many years. Every eight-page snapshot features the main animal character(s) along with other creatures or plants that live nearby, with dramatic tension usually coming in the form of a predator from which the animal manages to escape. Many of the stories focus on the relationship between animal parents and their young, including those in which the father takes an active role, such as emperor penguin dads who protect the eggs while the mother goes out to hunt for food, and the spiny seahorse, one of the few species in which the father gives birth. "Science Behind the Story" features additional intriguing facts about each animal. Brightly colored illustrations give young readers much to marvel at. Brief mentions of environmental dangers, such as overfishing, climate change, and plastic trash in the oceans appear throughout but are presented without much context or further explanation. Back matter includes a world map with the location of each animal, glossary, and index. In the digital galley, there were no other source notes or bibliography. VERDICT A compelling set of stories that will fascinate animal lovers, and a recommended purchase.—Sue Morgan

School Library Journal