Water Beds: Sleeping in the Ocean

In her delightfully informative book, author Gail Langer Karkowski delves deep into the world of animals sleep, and shares with her readers an inside look into the mysterious world of the ocean; a world children often wonder about. Illustrator Connie McLennan compliments the text beautifully with her pictures. Best described as a perfect mix of realism and whimsy, McLennan's illustrations transport readers deep within the realms of the ocean to a place they've only dreamt about. A must have for all children who dream, wonder, and explore.

With illustrations from Connie McLennan, Water Beds: Sleeping In The Ocean by Gail Langer Karwoski is an intriguing picturebook collection of ten marine mammals and their unique sleeping habits. Included are the sleeping habits of the bottlenose dolphin, harbor seals, elephant seals, northern fur seals, walruses, humpback whales, beluga whales, manatees, sea otters, and walruses. Water Beds carries young readers through a charmingly presented survey of the diversity of sleeping methods with a thoroughly "kid friendly" text enhanced with beautiful illustrations throughout. Concluding with "For Creative Minds" (a summary of marine mammal adaptations for an ocean environment) and "Make Your Own Marine Mammal Using Adaptations" (a hands on creative exercise applying what's been learned about marine mammals), Water Beds is a very highly recommended addition for school and community library "Pets & Wildlife" collections for children ages 4 to 8, and an ideal selection for parents as an entertaining and educational bedtime picturebook.

This book is beautifully, poetically written, the illustrations are just perfect, so bright and colorful. I know it would have been my favorite book as a little girl, and it is the current book of choice for many of my friend's kids. Sure to inspire any little marine biologist!!!

Winner of Mom's Choice Award for Most Outstanding Author 2005, this adorable book will soon become your child's favorite. Brightly illustrated, the story begins as a means to lull your child to sleep with pleasant memories of how marine mammals sleep. The first page pictures a young boy clad in bright red pajamas, surrounded by his collection of stuffed marine mammals. During sleep the mammals come alive and he swims with the orcas, as they glide side-by-side in their pod. Four minutes of rest then up to breathe. He nestles on shore with a sleeping harbor seal. My personal favorite is the dolphins. Did you know they sleep with one eye open? The pajama clad boy nestles on a soft water plant as he sleeps with the manatees on a sandy waterbed. He wears a life vest to keep afloat to bob up and down with the naturally buoyed walruses. Another favorite of mine is the sea otters. They wrap kelp strands around their tummies to anchor themselves in place. When it is cold they cover their little cheeks with their furry front paws. Water Beds includes a section of additional information and activities in the back called "For Creative Minds." This section includes information about what makes an animal a mammal, and includes teaching trivia about how marine mammals adapt to their watery habitat. A craft section includes graphics for children to design their own marine mammal, encouraging them to think about how each body part helps the mammal survive. Highly recommended

Water Beds tells how sea mammals breathe air in water during sleep. Interesting facts float through this lyrical picture book, presented in an understandable manner. A child personalizes each spread, bringing a calming tone for easy bedtime reading. The book is further complimented by appealing oil painting illustrations, soothing yet dotted with water details. Fascinating facts and how-to drawing information draw attention to the back of the book.