LitPick Review
Teja's Day at the Aquarium is a children's picture book that takes young readers on a journey as Teja explores the aquarium. Authored by Teja Harper, a 10-year-old girl, this book takes the reader along on her visit with her father, mother, and little brother. The visit is presented through Teja’s eyes, ears, and hands-on experience. At the aquarium, they see a diverse group of marine creatures. Teja and her family comment throughout the story on their experience and the creatures they see, all accompanied by illustrations from Carolyn Vaughan.
Opinion:
On opening this picture book, I was immediately struck by the colorful illustrations which beautifully depict the different fish and creatures Teja and her family saw in the aquarium. Most of the illustrations could be viewed as a separate work of art. Teja's story and the text, while very simplistic since it is written by a 10-year-old, is engaging and easy to follow, making it perfect for young readers. The childish writing also adds an element of relatability that children can connect with. This book is the perfect length for a picture book of this nature and each page tries to present an interesting educational fact or idea at a different stop on this aquarium adventure. Additionally, one will appreciate the family dynamics portrayed throughout the story. Teja's interactions with her father, mother, and little brother promotes the importance of family bonding and shared experiences, making it not just an educational but also an emotional journey. I recommend Teja's Day at the Aquarium as an entertaining story which should spark a child’s curiosity about marine life as well as encourage family togetherness. This title is one of the newest additions to the other over 2,000 titles listed on Amazon when searching with the keywords “children picture book aquarium,” although the outstanding artistic illustrations of this title will particularly be appreciated by adults reading this book to their children.
