2,297 bytes added
, 18:36, 30 March 2009
{{infobox
|title=SNAP!
|author=Margaret Mayo and Alex Ayliffe
|reviewer=Keith Dudhnath
|genre=For Sharing
|summary=An enjoyable look at the creatures of the sea, from the people who brought you [[ROAR! by Margaret Mayo and Alex Ayliffe|ROAR!]] There's an interesting mix of creatures that make it great fun to pore over.
|rating=4
|buy=Yes
|borrow=Yes
|format=Hardback
|pages=32
|publisher=Orchard Books
|date=March 2009
|isbn=978-1846167102
|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1846167108</amazonuk>
|amazonus=<amazonus>1846167108</amazonus>
}}
Margaret Mayo and Alex Ayliffe's [[ROAR! by Margaret Mayo and Alex Ayliffe|previous book]] looked at wild land animals. ''SNAP!'' continues the theme, but moves to the water. We get to meet sharks, stingrays, sea otters, octopuses and many more.
I was really taken with the alliteration, rhythm and cadence of Margaret Mayo's words. There's a loose, almost free-form feel to it. Of course all picture books are meant for reading aloud, but ''SNAP!'' really benefits from it. Much like the previous book in the series, there were one or two moments that didn't feel quite right - ''tall spouts creating'', instead of ''creating tall spouts'', for example. It doesn't detract from the overal whole - it's nitpicking what would otherwise be rampant praise.
Alex Ayliffe has a lot of fun with the illustrations. The animals have wonderfully expressive faces, with some of the tropical fish particularly amusing to spot swimming around. Every page is a glorious scene that's lots of fun to pore over, with even a relatively simple page of seals being bold, enjoyable and vibrant.
As well as the aforementioned ''ROAR!'', other books in the series include ''EMERGENCY!'', ''Dig Dig Digging!'', and ''Choo Choo Clickety-Clack!'' They'll all amuse and interest children - parents will want to pick the one or two that particularly marry with their child's interests. They'll be thoroughly enjoyed by any young child.
My thanks to the publishers for sending it to Bookbag.
For more underwater excitement, check out [[Shark and Lobster's Amazing Undersea Adventure by Viviane Schwarz]]. [[Does a Sea Cow Say Moo? by Terry Webb Harshman and George McClements]] is also worth a look.
{{amazontext|amazon=1846167108}} {{waterstonestext|waterstones=6298562}}
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