O Is for Ocean

An alphabet and ocean primer for young readers, O is for Ocean has two to three colorful letters of the alphabet with their corresponding ocean word and its matching illustration on each open page. From an anenome to a zebrashark, ocean plants and animals like manatees and kelp are highlighted, with the hardest word being xiphosura. Kaliaha’s fun illustrations are cute and enjoyable, though not remarkable, with friendly-looking fish in the forefront and sun rays and bubbles in the background water, making the ocean scenes cohesive throughout the book. The variety of plants and fishes included in the primer allows for a touch of familiarity with recognizable animals like a whale or jellyfish as well as an opportunity for more learning with inclusions like the barracuda and viper fish. Ultimately, this ABC ocean board book makes for a nice primer and an enjoyable read, but isn’t a favorite that must be in the bookshelf.