Bernstrom, Daniel. One Day at the Bottom of the Deep Blue Sea. Brandon James Scott, Illus. Hippo Park, 04/2025. [48]pp. Picture Book. Trade $18.99. 978-1-66264-082-7. GRADES Preschool–3. HIGH ADDITIONAL.
A little girl searches for pearls under the sea when a shark comes along. To save herself, she makes a deal to find him something for his dinner in this clever story similar to folktales such as Margaret Read McDonald’s The Fat Cat (2001). The text has a Seuss-like jaunty rhyme with repetition, describing how the girl offers various sea creatures that end up hurting the shark which he spits out, including a squid, octopus, and puffer fish. The digitally rendered cartoon artwork is filled with bright colors, and the girl is depicted as Black with two curly puffs of hair. This will work well as a readaloud and as a way of showing a number of ocean animals. Review based on an ARC.
Penny Peck—San José State University iSchool