Driftwood Dragons and Other Seaside Poems. Tyne Brown. Illustrated by Tamara Thiebaux-Heikalo. Halifax, NS: Nimbus, 2012. 32 pp., pbk., $12.95. ISBN 978-1-55109-893-7. Preschool-grade 3 / Ages 4-8. Review by Aileen Wortley. **** /4

excerpt:

The Beach Flea [first verse only] The beach flea isn't snazzy bright,
     He hasn't set the world alight,
   He doesn't sing or dance or write,
    But when he jumps
      He's out of …………sight.

My Friend is Gone
     The foghorn sounds so low and long,
     Waves lap on the shore.
     Great whales sing their mournful song.
     My friend isn't here anymore.

Inspired by Maritime shores, this collection of 34 poems for children aged 4-8 reflects a universal fascination with the mystery of the sea. Ranging through a number of topics from sand fleas to sandpipers, seaweed to shore pearls; silvery moons to moon-snails, the poems, whether they are haiku, couplets, or full-page verses, are a tribute to the many marvels of the seaside.

     Despite the brevity and whimsy of the poetry, Tyne Brown, winner of the Joyce Barkhouse Writing Award for Children, has managed to evoke a complexity of mood and emotions. Poems of humor, wistfulness, mischief and nostalgia sit comfortably side by side, while the subtlety of changing seasons is always present. Each verse contains astute observation and pithy details that heighten the reader's awareness of ordinary objects seen in and around the sea that often go unnoticed. Above all, Driftwood Dragons and Other Seaside Poems is entertaining and readable.

      Adding greatly to the charm of the book are the illustrations of Tamara Thiebaux-Heikalo. Every poem has its own related illustration, and the delicate watercolors capture the tenor of each verse perfectly. From tiny illustrations of jellyfish, bayberries or lupins to full-page pictures of driftwood dragons or lights out at sea, each is entirely compatible with the emotion of the poem.

      With its attractive layout and harmony of text and illustrations, Driftwood Dragons and Other Seaside Poems is a book that invites the young reader to browse and ponder. This would be a welcome addition to any collection whether it is that of an institution or an individual.

Highly Recommended.

Aileen Wortley is a retired librarian living in Toronto, ON.

To comment on this title or this review, send mail to cm@umanitoba.ca.

Copyright © the Manitoba Library Association. Reproduction for personal use is permitted only if this copyright notice is maintained. Any other reproduction is prohibited without permission.

Published by The Manitoba Library Association ISSN 1201-9364

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