I love the ocean. I love the way it sounds, the way it looks, the way it smells, the way it feels. (Not so much the way it tastes…) My absolute favorite place to be is on a beach towel in the sand, under an umbrella, listening to the sound of the crashing waves. I love the warm sun and sand on my skin. I love to watch the waves in the crystal blue water of Hawaii, the cold gray water of Southern California, and even the sand-churned brown water of the Texas coast. If I could buy a house on the water I would! Someday I will… I just love the ocean, don’t you?
In the recent months, the ocean itself hasn’t been too loving, though. Hurricanes Harvey and Irma have destroyed lives and property. The pictures and videos of uprooted trees, flooded houses and cars, wet and stranded animals, flattened towns, and highways turned to rivers have really been a shocking reminder of how powerful and non-sentimental the ocean can be.
So, I thought I would I would share a book to remind us of the beauty, and remind us of what we all love about the big blue sea.
Hello, Ocean is a book written by Pam Muñoz Ryan, and illustrated by Mark Astrella.
Watch this video to read along with me.
Here is a classic craft to remind you of the beauty of the ocean when you can’t get to the beach in person.
Ocean in a Bottle
What to gather:
- a clear glass or plastic bottle with a lid (I used a Smart Water bottle, because it is smooth and clear and pretty big.)
- water
- oil (I used baby oil, because it is clear.)
- blue food coloring
- optional: sand, glitter, tiny shells
- hot glue
What to do:
1. Fill the bottle 1/3 with water.
2. Add a few drops of food coloring, put on the lid, and shake the bottle to mix the color into the water.
3. Pour in about 1/2 inch of sand and/or glitter. Add in a few seashells.
4. Fill the rest of the bottle with oil.
5. Melt some hot glue into the lid, and put the lid on the bottle. The glue will keep the lid secured for safety.
6. Twist, turn, and rock the bottle to see the ocean waves.
Imagine you are there, listening to the sound of the waves, watching the beautiful blue water, smelling the salty air, and digging in the soft warm sand.
Links to some cool people who love the ocean:
If you are ever in Venice Beach, California, learn to surf with Kapowui Surf Club. That’s where I took my lessons! They are real California surfers, and they would love to share the surf with you!
The loving people at Adopt a Family USVI are partnering generous people who want to help victims of the recent hurricanes with specific families that need help. You can sign up to mail a package of supplies that someone from the US Virgin Islands has asked for.
Do you love the ocean? Let’s make a list in the comments of the things we love to see, hear, smell, touch, and taste at the ocean.
Thanks for visiting!
Let’s Read a Book! 