Water Sings Blue - Book Review

This post was written as a Master's course assignment for Texas Woman's University.

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Coombs, Kate. 2012. WATER SINGS BLUE: OCEAN POEMS. Illustrated by Meilo So. San Francisco, CA: Chronicle Books, LLC. ISBN 9780811872843.

2. BOOK SUMMARY

Any time a trip to the shore is in order, but unattainable, this book is the perfect remedy. The sounds of seagulls, the scents of salt and brine, and the fabulous wildlife of the sea- all emerge when this book is opened. The tone is set immediately as Coombs invites to reader to push away from shore in SONG OF THE BOAT: "For the water sings blue and the sky does, too,/and the sea lets you fly like a gull." Now that the reader is on "Island Time," a much more relaxed way to enjoy the day, the book introduces some familiar beach characters: the seagulls, the urchins, the salty waves, the jellyfish, etc.

This collection of poems is sure to become a favorite for anyone who enjoys time at the beach. WHAT THE WAVES SAY is a beautiful study on the different moods of the ocean and the shapes that it takes: "Roll green, rise and lean~/wake and roar and strike the shore!" The internal rhyme within the lines of this poem moves the rhythm along in a wave-like cadence. 

There is a lot of humor in this collection as well, especially around the sea creatures. In JELLYFISH KITCHEN, the author relates the jellyfish to something many children are familiar with: "The prim bell jar/with ruffled rim/my grandma used/to cover cake/has learned to swim." The BLUE WHALE is larger-than-life, with the illustration taking over two full pages and encouraging the reader to turn the book sideways.

Kate Coombs has a succinct way of saying interesting, big thoughts, using few words. This is especially true in CORAL: "We are golden./We are pretty./We are coral./We are city." CORAL would be an excellent read-aloud choice for students, with its repetition and rhyme. The illustrator, Meilo So, adds so much to the texture, emotion, and personality of the poems. Alternating between vibrant and muted watercolors, the illustrations are the perfect complement to the poems.

3. POEM HIGHLIGHT

This highlighted poem, TIDE POOL SHOPPING, displays all of the treasures to be found by the seaside by a curious bird (or child, or pet). As a fun educational supplement, I would invite the students to bring favorite items that were collected from the beach or lake, and to share them in class if they like, with a history of where the items came from, and what memories they evoke for the owner.

TIDE POOL SHOPPING

I'm going shopping at the tide pool.

They carry everything there~

mussels by the bushel

and three kinds of barnacle,

starfish and gobies to spare.

My mama gave me a shopping list.

I know I can find what she likes~

blennies for pennies,

beadlet anemones,

and urchins with lavender spikes.

I'll bring it all home in a basket.

Then mama can fix us a feast~

prawns by the dozens

and octopus cousins,

plus some kind of lobster beast.

*Excerpt from TIDE POOL SHOPPING, by Kate Coombs.