Book Review: One Day on our Blue Planet... In the Ocean by Ella Bailey

★★★★

Hi all!

I have another picture book review for you today! This week I’m reviewing “One Day on our Blue Planet … In the Ocean” by Ella Bailey. First off, I’d like to say that I didn’t know this book was part of a series, so this is the first one in the series I’ve seen and read. Hence, I don’t have any of the other books to compare it to! However, after having read this one, I might go out and get the other three books.

In this instalment of the series you get to accompany an adorable little bottle-nose dolphin calf and find out what kinds of animals it meets throughout its day. Along the way, you learn many things about the life of dolphins. In my opinion, it was even informative for adults! (Before you start judging me, English is not my first language – also, did you know a group of dolphins was called a pod? Because I sure didn’t.) However, I would have liked it to be a tiny bit more informative in regards to the other animals the dolphin meets in the story. Animals such as jellyfish or sharks are only mentioned, and nothing else is really explained about them. Though this might be my over-enthusiasm forgetting that this is a picture book, and so there is limited space for such details.

The illustrations fit perfectly with the book. The earth tones used give it a natural feel, and even the choice of paper adds to this reading experience. As far as I’m aware, most picture books use glossy paper to make the colours of the illustrations brighter, but in this case the matte paper retains the illustrations’ realism. I think that was the right choice as I believe the aim of the book is to give children an authentic impression of what the ocean is like.

Moreover, I loved the idea of the endpapers having the different animals on it, with the front endpapers showing animals that live in the shallow area of the ocean, and the rear endpapers giving an overview of the animals that reside in the deep layer of the ocean. I imagine it would be a lot of fun to learn the names of all the different animals with your son or daughter!

Overall, I think this book is a fun way to introduce children to the ocean environment, and make them aware of the variety of life it holds!

You can pre-order your copy of One Day on our Blue Planet on Book Depository.*

*Please note that I'm a Book Depository affiliate, so I might make a small profit if you use the link above.​

I would like to thank Flying Eye Books and Nobrow Press for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review.