Grab your paddle and climb aboard for a magical journey in this Perfect Picture Book!
Title: Over and Under the Waves
Written By: Kate Messner
Art By: Christopher Silas Neal
Publisher/Date: Chronicle Books/2022
Suitable for Ages: 5-8
Themes/Topics: kayaking, marine life, nature
Opening:
Over the waves we paddle, away from the beach to the water’s deep blue.
Brief Synopsis: A girl and her parents kayak over the sea kelp beds in Monterey Bay.
Links to Resources:
- Learn more about kelp forests;
- Discover kayaks and kayaking;
- Check out the amazing back matter with Author’s Note, information about the animals, and further reading suggestions.
Why I Like this Book:
In this gentle journey in Monterey Bay, a young girl and her family explore what they see above the waves, and readers learn about life underwater. I love that Messner chose a non-motorized boat that silently glides through the water and that doesn’t distract from the peaceful surroundings. I also love that the family propel themselves, just as the sea creatures propel themselves through the water. And I especially love when the worlds above and below the waves intersect, when, for instance, a sea lion dives from the rocks into the sea, whales breach the surface causing the kayaks to rock, and the young narrator’s red jacket matches both the kayak and the octopus swimming below them.
As many of you probably know, Over and Under the Waves is part of a series of picture books by Messner and Neal that explore the natural world and the connections that unite creatures and plants over and under various divides. Neal’s soft mixed-media illustrations combined with Messner’s fact-filled text provide a perfect way to explore nature in classrooms, libraries, and homes.
A Note about Craft:
Messner’s use of first-person point-of-view enables the reader to feel as if they are in the kayak with the young narrator and her mother.
This Perfect Picture Book entry is being added to Susanna Hill’s Perfect Picture Book list. Check out the other great picture books featured there!
Wander, Ponder, Write 
I, too, love this series. And I think it all started with Over and Under the Snow. A classic! Great pick, Patricia!
I too love these books! Kate does such a great job with all the NF elements and the illustrations are stunning. Great review, Patricia.
I love Kate’s books. Thanks for sharing this one.
I read “Over and Under the Snow.” I did not know this was part of a series. What a beautiful way to learn about animals in their habitat. Thank you for sharing this book.