Reviews for If All the Seas Were One Sea

The average rating for If All the Seas Were One Sea based on 2 reviews is 1.5 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2019-04-16 00:00:00 Jeremy Stembridge I love the artwork of this book. It is simple with many pen lines making patterns that make up the picture with bold colors. Great artwork. I did NOT like the story. This beginning book is quick. It is going to a macro understanding of the world. If all the seas were one sea, the trees one tree and humans one human. It’s having us see them collectively. Then She goes and has the only human chop down the only tree into the sea, so now there is no tree. Terrible ecology and what is the point. This book made me very mad as I was reading it at that part. The nephew laughed at me a little because I couldn’t believe they cut down the tree. I don’t understand the idea of the story. It’s so simple and so disturbing. I’ve been watching ‘This lonely rock (or planet) on Netflix and it’s a great show. It really goes into the large systems on our world that make the planet able to sustain life and it is really a delicate balance. Anyway, I have a pained response to any maimed trees. I can’t stand to see it. I’m a tree hugger. So, this idea really got me. The niece didn’t like this book anyway, she said and she gave it 2 stars. The nephew thought it was rather funny and he gave it 4 stars. I guess my bias shines through here.

Review # 2 was written on 2011-04-09 00:00:00 Michael Portnoy I can see why this would catch the attention of a Caldecott committee. The illustrations are like nothing I've ever seen before. They are very geometric with interesting lines and shapes, although I liked some of the pictures better than others. My favorites were the animals in the sea - especially the seahorses and the octopus. While I thought the pictures were interesting and quite unique, I had a problem with the text. Apparently it comes from a "favorite nursery rhyme" that I had never heard before. The text is very simple: "If all the seas were one sea, what a great sea that would be. And if all the trees were one tree, what a great tree that would be." The same pattern is followed with an ax and a man. So if a great man has a great ax, of course he's going to cut down the great tree "and let it fall into the great sea, what a splish splash that would be!" And that's the end of the book. If someone understands the point of this nursery rhyme, post in the comments! Please explain it to me, because I just don't get it. Some reviewers on Amazon seem to think there is some sort of "philosophical" point to it.