I preordered today’s Perfect Picture Book for a granddaughter who adores the ocean and all its creatures. I know she’ll love it – and I know you will, too.
Title: The Quiet Ocean
Written By: Charlotte Offsay
Illustrated By: Abi Cushman
Publisher/Date: Beach Lane Books/May2026
Suitable for Ages: 4-8
Themes/Topics: sea, chain of events, noise, humor, cumulative story, chain reaction, puffer fish, quiet, ocean creatures, whales
Opening:
Deep beneath the waves, a pufferfish putters alone.
A playful puffer in a quiet, nothing-much-happening ocean.
Until…
Brief Synopsis: A playful pufferfish sets off a series of escalating events that roils the ocean.
Links to Resources:
· Enjoy this Activity Guide;
· Learn more about the featured ocean creatures;
· Discover pufferfish.
Why I Like this Book:
Fun language, escalating tension, and a wee heroine that saves the day – what more could one want in a humorous picture book?
From the moment the puttering pufferfish in the “nothing-much-happening ocean” disturbs the squid, this fast-paced story escalates until one young heroine saves the day. From there, things start to quiet down until the crew is in a “now-this-is-more-like-it ocean – which isn’t too chaotic or too quiet at all.”
Kids will love that a young creature saves the day, as they realize that youngsters are able to improve their lives and our world. They may notice that at the outset, the sea creatures pursue solitary endeavors, with each noisy burst startling the next unsuspecting animal. By the end, though, the creatures clearly are a community. One “pop” that startled a squid sets off the chain reaction that causes each creature to care more about another and for the group to come together.
Cushman’s pencil-drawn and digitally-colored illustrations add so many details to this delightful tale. I especially love the inclusion of human belongings that one might find at the bottom of an ocean, and Cushman’s imaginative depictions of how these sea creatures might use them.
If you’re heading to the beach, or wishing you were, pick up a copy of The Quiet Ocean. You and your kids will be glad you did.
A Note about Craft:
Cumulative stories in which we can really feel the tension rising are such fun to read aloud with kids. Offsay’s addition of alliteration and loads of onomatopoeia make The Quiet Ocean a particularly fun read-aloud.
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 