Official Review: Sea of Surprises by Caren Cantrell

[Ivana Tomaš]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Sea of Surprises" by Caren Cantrell.]

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3 out of 4 stars

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Imaginative scenes and unusual characters are desirable elements in children’s stories. Likewise, an unusual, original, and entertaining plot is one of the essential factors of a good children’s book. Sea of Surprises by Caren Cantrell is a children’s book that follows Vienna and her best friend Chloe on an exciting sea adventure. It is Vienna's birthday, and her grandmother sends her a surprise package containing a clue that sends two friends on an exciting treasure hunt. The reader further discovers whether Vienna and Chloe manage to find the treasure, and who is helping them along the way.

I really like the illustrations in this book. They are not typical and look as if they were painted with watercolors. Likewise, the story sends a message about the importance of friendship and teamwork. I also really like the concept of the book. It can be perceived as a fun and imaginative children’s detective story. I think the clues given in the story would intrigue and encourage children to try to solve them on their own.

The main thing I do not like about this book is its length. I would have preferred it not to be so short. I also think the author could have added even more clues to the story. In addition, there are not enough animal characters in the story. The book leaves me a little dissatisfied because I believe the story could have been elaborated in more detail.

I rate this book 3 out of 4 stars. I believe this book can help develop vocabulary and creativity in children. It is both fun and educational. However, I think the additional characters and more detailed elaboration of the story would have made the book even more interesting.

I would primarily recommend this book to parents because I think it could be an ideal bedtime story. I also think this book is suitable for children who are just starting to read on their own. I did not encounter any grammatical errors.

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Sea of Surprises
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[Catherine15]

Kids learns fast by seeing diagrams and illustrations on books or television.this book indeed is creative and educational for kids.

[Chizioboli]

Thanks for A fantastic review of this adventure filled book. Must be A read i would recommend for little children

[PeterRabitt20]

The watercolor illustrations must have been superb. Many children's books have switched to computerized 3D illustrations. Thanks for your review.

[Medhansh Bhardwaj]

I agree with you on the illustrations part. But I think the language could have been better written. I didn't like the writing style of the author, and the narration as well. Otherwise, this is a fine read.