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kelleemoye's review
4.0
Katie Cottle has caught onto something big with the format of this and her Green Giant book: it truly brings our environment to life and shows the harm that we are doing to it. The anthropomorphism of the ocean makes it even easier to connect to it as an entity as it shows how we are hurting it, and it shows what Meera DOES to try to reverse the effects we’ve caused.
In addition to the theme and story, I also really liked the illustrations. The author’s use of line is used expertly to show movement, and I loved all of the colors to really bring the story to life.
Full review with teaching tools: http://www.unleashingreaders.com/?p=21277
In addition to the theme and story, I also really liked the illustrations. The author’s use of line is used expertly to show movement, and I loved all of the colors to really bring the story to life.
Full review with teaching tools: http://www.unleashingreaders.com/?p=21277
sophiebeth23's review
5.0
I loved this story it’s an excellent picture book explaining how we can all work together to protect the ocean and remove the rubbish. My little eco warrior daughter really enjoyed it and the tips on the last page although she was unsure why she would need a reusable coffee cup. It was also lovely to see the main character not being a typical blonde and blue eyed child. Thanks for using a BAME main character.
mat_tobin's review
4.0
Another ecocritical picturebook from Cottle, this time heading to the seaside to explore human waste that threatens the wildlife within. Much like the first book, there is a sense of Understanding and then Action here and it was sweet to see the character from [b:The Green Giant|43975785|The Green Giant|Katie Cottle|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1550287709l/43975785._SX50_.jpg|68372461] make a guest appearance. A beautiful, visual introduction to issues of pollution within the waters and making a change for the good.
curatedchoas_books's review
5.0
Katie Cottle’s second illustration book, The Blue Giant, is finally here!
It’s visually calming blue hues are as refreshing and cool as her previous book, The Green Giant, was invigorating and lush. In this stunningly illustrated children’s picture book, the friendly giant of the sea carries a message from the ocean and seems to be fishing for a favour from Meera and her Mum.
The everyday beauty of coastal life is captured in vibrant colours and brilliantly splashy, washy textures as the story unfolds. In this book, the seemingly hopeless case of our oceans plastics problem is turned into an opportunity for a community to draw together to preserve the sacred areas they love. The teenagers in my hometown certainly need to take some advice from The Blue Giant, having trashed the lovely local beach, Langland, that inspired the beach huts that the book features. Luckily, delightful individuals like @dontbeatosser organised community beach clean to preserve the beauty and safety of the beach.
There were so many parts of this book that I loved. A favourite was the cameo from Mia and her grandpa from The Green Giant, still doing what they can by encouraging parts of the Green Giant to sprout up wherever they can in urban areas. It’s good to see they’re doing well with their cosy bee hotel and planting bee-friendly flowers.
It’s a moving picture book, beautifully illustrated but simple in its message. Meera and her Mum start clearing up their local slice of the ocean by recycling the waves of plastic that are worryingly as numerous as the fish. The giant starts of murky, but after the whole town is inspired to pitch in, he sparkles with the full variety of ocean life. These two spreads are my favourites because of this joyful celebration of the difference of life, the variety of shapes, sizes and colours of fish under the sea’s surface are mirrored by the diversity of the townspeople up on land.
The book concludes with a page of achievable suggestions for ocean-loving little ones, with reminders for the children (and the parents) of small daily changes we can take to help the fish stuck in beer rings or the hermit crab using a tin can for his shell. The book not only encourages a consciousness to the single-use plastic we consume but teaches the lesson that the challenge is considerable and the damage is done. All we can do now is help clean up.
It’s going to be the most enthusiastic 5/5 stars from me. It uses simple words and beautiful illustrations to tell an important message to the younger generation.
It’s visually calming blue hues are as refreshing and cool as her previous book, The Green Giant, was invigorating and lush. In this stunningly illustrated children’s picture book, the friendly giant of the sea carries a message from the ocean and seems to be fishing for a favour from Meera and her Mum.
The everyday beauty of coastal life is captured in vibrant colours and brilliantly splashy, washy textures as the story unfolds. In this book, the seemingly hopeless case of our oceans plastics problem is turned into an opportunity for a community to draw together to preserve the sacred areas they love. The teenagers in my hometown certainly need to take some advice from The Blue Giant, having trashed the lovely local beach, Langland, that inspired the beach huts that the book features. Luckily, delightful individuals like @dontbeatosser organised community beach clean to preserve the beauty and safety of the beach.
There were so many parts of this book that I loved. A favourite was the cameo from Mia and her grandpa from The Green Giant, still doing what they can by encouraging parts of the Green Giant to sprout up wherever they can in urban areas. It’s good to see they’re doing well with their cosy bee hotel and planting bee-friendly flowers.
It’s a moving picture book, beautifully illustrated but simple in its message. Meera and her Mum start clearing up their local slice of the ocean by recycling the waves of plastic that are worryingly as numerous as the fish. The giant starts of murky, but after the whole town is inspired to pitch in, he sparkles with the full variety of ocean life. These two spreads are my favourites because of this joyful celebration of the difference of life, the variety of shapes, sizes and colours of fish under the sea’s surface are mirrored by the diversity of the townspeople up on land.
The book concludes with a page of achievable suggestions for ocean-loving little ones, with reminders for the children (and the parents) of small daily changes we can take to help the fish stuck in beer rings or the hermit crab using a tin can for his shell. The book not only encourages a consciousness to the single-use plastic we consume but teaches the lesson that the challenge is considerable and the damage is done. All we can do now is help clean up.
It’s going to be the most enthusiastic 5/5 stars from me. It uses simple words and beautiful illustrations to tell an important message to the younger generation.
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