Ocean by Greenaway, Gunzi, and Taylor. Photographed by Greenaway, Taylor, and Burton

One of my favorite genres to read to children is photography books. (I'm not sure that is an actual genre used in libraries to describe what I mean. I'm describing children's picture books that use photography in place of drawn illustrations.) I love showing a child what life really is like, because real life is so amazing! Nature in all of its splendor is such a testament to the genius that God is: there is so much beauty, diversity, complexity and simplicity all at once!

Ocean is full of these kinds of beautiful, up close photos of sea horses, fishes, sea stars, scallops, sea urchins, etc. It is nearly like a sea dive without having to get cold and wet or pay a lot to fly to a tropical island (I'm not saying I wouldn't like to fly to a tropical island...)

It's a DK (Dorling Kindersley) book with informative text that you don't have to share if you are trying to shorten the length of the read, but you can if you have a fascinated child.

Now if only the sound of the ocean wave and the smell of the salty mist could be included...

Well, I guess we'll have to drive to California for that!