What a gorgeous book! This biography of Jacques Cousteau is a dreamy, wonderful adventure. It shares marine inventor and explorer and conservationist Jacques' life and accomplishments, but more importantly, it shares the quality that helped him do it: a sense of wonder. Jacques wondered about lots of things, from how cranes worked, to how movies were made, to how a person might be able to breathe underwater. Although his love of the ocean eventually led to his life's work, you get the sense while reading this book that Jacques could have been absolutely anything, and that he would have made a difference in whatever field he chose--all because he wondered. He was curious and industrious and determined. What a great model for kids, no matter where their interests lie.The writing is terrific. The facts are clear, the anecdotes are kid-friendly, and there are plenty of wonderful word choices. Here are just a couple of my favorite bits:"At that moment Jacques knew his life was changed forever. His eyes had been opened to the wonders of the sea.""Jacques, Philippe, and Did gathered a crew, their aqualungs, their hopes, and their dreams, and set off to explore the inside of the sea...""...with eyes on long stalks, buried so deep in the sand they looked like a garden of eyes."And the terrific ending, speaking directly to kids: "Jacques dreamed that someday it would be you, exploring worlds never seen....Worlds that are now yours. To discover. To care for. And to love."The art by Eric Puybaret is fabulous, too.My only nitpick is that I would have liked a bit more backmatter. But a stellar book! Manfish A story of Jacques Cousteau by Jennifer Berne and illustrated by Eric Puybaret is a wonderfully written biography of the man who pioneered the new way we look at the ocean. The words are poetically fascinating. I wish though that the illustrations were a wee bit brighter. I understand the feel for the deep depths of the ocean....but for kids, I wonder if a little lightening up would be helpful.
What do You think about Comme Un Poisson (2009)?
This was an informative, beautifully illustrated and thoroughly enjoyable book for young readers.
—Sugarness_
Informative--good pictures, can be a little long, but good exposure to a real explorer.
—cate
Chickadee nominee 2009-2010. I thought it was a bit wordy.
—Nora
Pretty good but leaves out some relevant elements
—fritzel
