Book Twenty Three: Out of the Ocean

Out of the Ocean by Debra Frasier
Publisher: Sandpiper (April 1, 2002)
Lexile: 690L


This is a story about a little girl who like her mother enjoys the ocean, and her mother says the ocean will give you what you ask for. The little girl often asks for tangible things like shells and treasure, but her mother asks for things we often take for granted like the sun. This is just a fabulous book to introduce the ocean, and the author does a really nice job of playing with your senses when experiencing the ocean from this story.


This was a story I really enjoyed because it reminded me of all the things we are blessed with, and also because I really enjoy the ocean. The setting of this story is the beach, and it fits so well with the story. The characters of the story are often secondary to the descriptions and illustrations in this story. The author incorporates some personification when she writes about the waves "sailing", and there is also a great deal of m-dashes used. I know I have preached about this is my other blogs, but I think it is such a cool thing to use in writing and isn't often taught. The author also incorporates lots of descriptive adjectives and verbs to paint a picture in your head. The illustrations/photographs are outstanding, and they are my favorite part to this story because you really feel like you are at the ocean. The author uses real life photographs to go a long with paintings in a really beautiful way. I could see students who have never been to the ocean really enjoying this because the author makes you feel like you are there (i felt the wind blow off the waves and the smell of the ocean when I was reading). The story really plays with your senses. 


I would use this book to introduce the ocean because I think often times, especially in the Midwest, students have never experienced the ocean. This book is a perfect way to introduce the ocean because it really makes you feel like you are there on the beach.


Thanks for reading!


Gorms