Over and Under the Waves

Over and Under the Waves
Synopsis
Over the waves, the sea lions bark and seagulls wheel and call. The bay is smooth and bright in the sun. But under the waves, there's a whole hidden forest, full of whales and wolf eels, sardines and sea bass, leopard sharks and luminous jellies, as well as the waving kelp that shelters them all. Discover the magical depths of the kelp forest, and all the fascinating creatures living just a paddle's length away—over and under the waves.
  • Virtue
    VIRTUE
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  • Language
    LANGUAGE
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    Ratings are based on a book's vocabulary, cadence, and overall eloquence suited to age level.
  • Story
    STORY
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    Ratings are based on the integrity of plot structure, the depth of characters, the palpability of the book's conflict and resolution, and the lure of its setting.
  • Beauty
    BEAUTY
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    Ratings are based on aesthetics, linguistic beauty, poignancy, and how well a book embodies ihsan—harmonizing excellence.
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Mindful Muslim Review

Part of the “Over and Under” series* on ecosystems. This highly informative, beautifully illustrated series of picture books teaches children that to know Allah ﷻ, is to know Him through His creations.  While this specific book can be used to build an appreciation for the biodiversity of a kelp forest, it also evokes a sense of awe, giving the reader a deep perspective of the perfect balance in the vastness of Allah’s ﷻ creation—subhanAllah! The About the Animals section found at the end of the book, richly enhances the content and allows for continuous learning as children grow.

*Click here to view the rest of the recommendations in this series.

Teaching Tools
  • What do we say when we see something beautiful or awe-inspiring in nature? SubhanAllah!
  • What does subhanAllah mean? “God is perfect” or “Glory to God.”
  • Why should we remember Allah ﷻ when we observe the natural world? Allah ﷻ is the Creator of this world, with all its perfection and beauty.
  • Next time you witness the appearance of a rainbow after a storm, feel the warmth of the sun on a chilly day, hear the waves crashing on the shore, smell the freshness of life after a rain, or taste the sweetness of a perfectly ripe fruit, and find yourself wanting to cry out, “Wow!”, say “subhanAllah” instead. Such a short phrase earns a great reward with Allah ﷻ, who is pleased that you remember Him when you see beauty and blessings in the world.
Ages: , ,
Illustrator: Christopher Silas Neal
Publisher: Chronicle Books
Published: 2022
Page Count: 56
ISBN13: 9781797203478
*This review applies only to ISBN number noted above.

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