Friday, May 10, 2013

Review: Mister Seahorse


Mister Seahorse by Eric Carle. 2004. 32 pgs. New York, NY: Penguin Group. 9780399242694. Format reviewed: Hardcover. Laura Ingalls Wilder Award Winner.

Annotation: Mister Seahorse swims through the ocean and meets many other sea-life fathers who are also taking care of their babies.
Reaction: What a great story for children to read with their fathers! Instead of reinforcing gender stereotypes, including the mother being the primary caregiver and the father being the lovable but incompetent parent, Mister Seahorse shows species of sea life where the male plays the dominant role in protecting eggs and the young. The illustrations, including the use of prints on transparent plastic to cover hiding animals, enhance the reading experience about the ocean. In a time where single parenting is at an all-time high, Mister Seahorse models positive father-child relationships as a normal part of nature. Great book!
Primary early literacy skills: Print Motivation. Although extensive use of vocabulary is used throughout, the story focuses on parent-child relationships, and how fathers take care of their children. It’s an interesting story with even more interesting illustrations. My children enjoy reading this again and again.
Recommended ages: 2 and up.
Tags/themes: Fathers, Seahorses, Sea life, Positive Male Role Models, the Ocean.
Author site/additional titles: www.eric-carle.com

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