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I See Sea Food: Sea Creatures That Look Like Food
The nonfiction photo book explores weird and wonderful sea creatures, from the chocolate chip sea star to the pineapplefish.
First published January 1, 2019
About the author
Jenna Grodzicki
39 books33 followersJenna is the author of several fiction and nonfiction picture books for children. Some of her titles include Finn Finds a Friend (Clear Fork Publishing, 2017), I See Sea Food: Sea Creatures that Look Like Food (Millbrook Press, 2019), Harmony Humbolt: Perfect Pets Queen (Clear Fork Publishing, 2021), and Wild Style: Amazing Animal Adornments (Millbrook Press, 2020). She lives in Connecticut with her husband, two crazy awesome kids, a cat named Pixie, and dog named Ozzy. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education from Boston College and a Master’s in Education from the University of New England. She recently traded in her librarian hat to become a full time writer. At all hours of the day (and night) she can be found at her desk, drinking iced coffee and working on her next story.
Jenna is represented by Victoria Selvaggio of Storm Literary Agency.
Jenna is represented by Victoria Selvaggio of Storm Literary Agency.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews
August 8, 2019
This is a really cool book about all the yummy-looking creatures that live in the sea. Now, I'm not talking about fried fish and grilled prawns. I'm talking about some weird and wonderful creatures that just happen to look like different foods that one might find on land. There's a sea slug that looks like lettuce, a jellyfish that looks like cauliflower, and even a sea star that looks like it's studded with chocolate chips!
The book makes excellent use of stock photos for its illustrations. For each creature, there's a nice picture, a little write-up, and a box full of stats and interesting facts.
Kids who are interested in marine biology are going to love this, but it might have appeal to curious kids in general. I quite enjoyed it, even at my age. (Is it wrong that I find it hilarious that sea apples breathe through their butts?)
Thank you to NetGalley and Millbrook Press for providing a digital ARC.
The book makes excellent use of stock photos for its illustrations. For each creature, there's a nice picture, a little write-up, and a box full of stats and interesting facts.
Kids who are interested in marine biology are going to love this, but it might have appeal to curious kids in general. I quite enjoyed it, even at my age. (Is it wrong that I find it hilarious that sea apples breathe through their butts?)
Thank you to NetGalley and Millbrook Press for providing a digital ARC.
October 25, 2018
This book means everything to me. I hope readers have as much fun learning about these sea food lookalikes as I did writing about them!
April 24, 2020
"Pineapples, pancakes, and chocolate chip cookies are tasty treats. But did you know they all live in the ocean? THAT CAN'T BE RIGHT!"
From the first page, Grodzicki draws young readers in to a delightful learning experience about the adaptations of lesser known sea creatures. Pineapple fish? Egg yolk jellyfish? Chocolate chip sea stars? This is the kind of book you can read aloud in the primary grades and then students will snatch up to "read" again and again, on their own and with friends.
INTERACTIVE READ ALOUD - The layout and design make this easy to read aloud to students multiple times or in different ways depending on the age and needs of your students. Each two-page layout (about a particular animal) begins with a statement in larger printer that introduces the animal--"An AUSTRALIAN PINEAPPLEFISH swims slowly through the coral reef" and "An EGG YOLK JELLYFISH drifts along with the tide." You could just read aloud this sentence on each page and then ask, "What do you notice in the photograph?" Then later you can return to this book, to read aloud the sidebars. The sidebar at the top of the second page (of each two-page layout) is playfully titled ("Just add butter" and "Extra cheese, please") and a second sidebar lists "fast facts."
MENTOR TEXT FOR YOUNG RESEARCHERS - Students could use the layout and design as a mentor for sharing what they've learned in their research. Grodzicki's word choice is also worthy of students' consideration. Love the verbs she's chosen--drifts, spreads, inches, creeps, etc. Older students might think about Grodzicki's conversational tone and playful word choice.
BTW Grodzicki nailed meeting the needs of the primary grade audience in many ways. I wasn't surprised when I read in her bio that she's been an educator who worked with young readers. Looking forward to reading her next book!
From the first page, Grodzicki draws young readers in to a delightful learning experience about the adaptations of lesser known sea creatures. Pineapple fish? Egg yolk jellyfish? Chocolate chip sea stars? This is the kind of book you can read aloud in the primary grades and then students will snatch up to "read" again and again, on their own and with friends.
INTERACTIVE READ ALOUD - The layout and design make this easy to read aloud to students multiple times or in different ways depending on the age and needs of your students. Each two-page layout (about a particular animal) begins with a statement in larger printer that introduces the animal--"An AUSTRALIAN PINEAPPLEFISH swims slowly through the coral reef" and "An EGG YOLK JELLYFISH drifts along with the tide." You could just read aloud this sentence on each page and then ask, "What do you notice in the photograph?" Then later you can return to this book, to read aloud the sidebars. The sidebar at the top of the second page (of each two-page layout) is playfully titled ("Just add butter" and "Extra cheese, please") and a second sidebar lists "fast facts."
MENTOR TEXT FOR YOUNG RESEARCHERS - Students could use the layout and design as a mentor for sharing what they've learned in their research. Grodzicki's word choice is also worthy of students' consideration. Love the verbs she's chosen--drifts, spreads, inches, creeps, etc. Older students might think about Grodzicki's conversational tone and playful word choice.
BTW Grodzicki nailed meeting the needs of the primary grade audience in many ways. I wasn't surprised when I read in her bio that she's been an educator who worked with young readers. Looking forward to reading her next book!
August 2, 2019
A slight, but very commendable, book. Normally primers are books that guide a very young reader into thinking about one person, period or subject, that they can then mature with. This is a little different, for it is a primer for things in the sea that look like foodstuffs. So where can you take that, other than actually go down in a submersible and look for more, I ask you? Still, this is a fun little read, featuring as it does lifeforms with no brains (nor blood), creatures that breathe with their anuses, and more. Oh, and all look sort of like lettuce, cauliflowers, pizza crust, chubby bananas and so on. The cynical adult will see the list of many real names for these creatures, and imagine that the food-comparison one is way down the list, and all the more serious ones are much more commonly used, but heck. The target audience for this will gain little insight into the actual life-cycle of our seas, and nothing about evolution (a page on that could have come in handy here, to discuss why these individual critters adapted thusly) – but will have fun. If they're still at the stuffing-everything-in-their-gobs stage (and they won't be much beyond that when turning to this) they'll have a strong connection with these wacky contents.
December 2, 2019
This book is a feast for the eyes and mind! Jenna Grodzicki provides fun, engaging facts that enhance that vibrant pictures perfectly. A must have for readers who love books on little-known animals and marine life.
June 14, 2019
As the author of ANIMAL ZOMBIES, I LOVE weird animal books & I SEE SEA FOOD satisfies my appetite big time. This book offers “a whole buffet of fun look alikes.” You might not want to show up with your dinner plate, but kids will love “sea-ing” these delectable and surprising sea creatures, including chocolate-chip sea stars, a lettuce sea slug, and a pancake batfish (“pass the syrup”). While reading Grodzicki’s kid-friendly puns and fun food references, kids won’t even realize that they’re gulping down big portions of life science (such as animal adaptations, habitats, food webs, & more). With incredible photographs & lots of fab facts, this book is a great addition to anyone’s science/STEM/biology bookshelf.
June 6, 2019
This takes sea food to a whole other level! This fascinating book explores lesser known sea creatures and how their appearances not only remind us of our favorite foods, but they serve a bigger purpose. Such an inventive way to answer why animals look and behave the way they do. With close-up, colorful pictures, kid-friendly, fun information (Did you know that Sea Apples breathe out of their butts?), and encouragement to discover and think more about animal behavior, I See Sea Food is perfect for those creative, science-loving kids in the classroom and at home!
June 9, 2019
This book has wide appeal for many age groups. I read it with my 4th grader and she laughed and said "whoa!!" and "ewww!" throughout! She's a pretty reluctant reader. This book is super entertaining and loaded with facts (and puns to tie things together) and as a bonus, has a really fun game at the end that makes kids guess (from close ups) if it's food or a sea creature. A fine example of edutainment in a book! I also like how the ending inspires kids to make their own discoveries.
June 10, 2019
Cauliflower? Pizza? Chocolate chip cookies? What are all these delicious foods doing underwater? This creative, brightly colored, informative non-fiction picture book is sure to be a hit with kids fascinated by the strange and unexpected in the animal world. Stunning photographs and lots of fun facts, plus an age-appropriate glossary make this a great addition to any classroom library or book collection.
May 6, 2022
We learn about nine sea creatures that look similar to food we eat in this entertaining and informative picture book. There are photos, descriptions and fast facts such as size, habitat, and predators about each creature in the book. Some of the creatures include the Australian Pineapple Fish, the Chocolate Chip Sea Star and the Pizza Crust Sea Slug. There is a glossary, quiz and suggestions for further reading at the end of the book. This title is on the 2023 Monarch list and it is available as an e-book on Overdrive and Hoopla.
Reviewed by: Liz Glazer, Youth and School Services, Vernon Area Public Library
Reviewed by: Liz Glazer, Youth and School Services, Vernon Area Public Library
June 3, 2019
A totally new take on learning about sea creatures - showing how many of them look just like food! I think kids will get a kick out of seeing sea creatures that look like everything from chocolate chip pancakes to sunny side-up eggs, while learning all about them. A fantastic new edition to non-fiction books.
June 4, 2019
Vibrant photographs, captivating captions, and curious facts about these sea creatures are sure to grab young readers. An engaging and fun read!
July 4, 2019
Jenna's book is perfect for those little inquisitive minds. It's fun and quirky. A wonderful book for the library shelf!
February 14, 2021
Creative take on sea creatures~
10/10 would take a bite out of a starfish-shaped chocolate cookie.
10/10 would take a bite out of a starfish-shaped chocolate cookie.
December 5, 2022
Very fun non fiction about unusual sea creatures. Great pictures and info!
January 11, 2020
fun nonfiction book that makes me super hungry... school visit?
January 7, 2020
Sea Creatures that look like Food?! Fun facts and fabulous photography. I am looking forward to sharing this book at class visits!
January 5, 2020
My first and second graders love these animal nonfiction. Just enough text and large, crisp photographs will keep their interest for a read aloud too.
Will have to purchase 2 copies for my library.
Will have to purchase 2 copies for my library.
September 26, 2019
See Sea Food: Sea Creatures That Look Like Food by Jenna Grodzicki is a children's non fiction book that is currently scheduled for release on October 1 2019. This book introduces some of the wackiest creatures under the sea—creatures that look like food. Creatures include the egg yolk jellyfish, the lettuce sea slug, the chocolate chip sea star, and many more.
I See Sea Food is a bright and bold book that taught me some interesting facts about creatures I had not heard of before. The photographs are amazing- they are clear and bright. I think the images alone make this book worth picking up. However, the selection of creatures and information shared about each are wonderful as well. I mean, how often do you discover that living creatures named after food use that appearance for defence, or gain their unique coloring by what type of jellyfish they have been snacking on, or breathe through their butt!. I loved the balance of serious information and the fun and wacky. I also appreciate that there is a glossary, quiz, and suggestions for further reading at the end of the book. I love when further engagement and information seeking is encouraged.
I See Sea Food held my attention and taught me something, and I think it will do the same for readers of all ages. A great addition to home, public, or classroom library collections.
I See Sea Food is a bright and bold book that taught me some interesting facts about creatures I had not heard of before. The photographs are amazing- they are clear and bright. I think the images alone make this book worth picking up. However, the selection of creatures and information shared about each are wonderful as well. I mean, how often do you discover that living creatures named after food use that appearance for defence, or gain their unique coloring by what type of jellyfish they have been snacking on, or breathe through their butt!. I loved the balance of serious information and the fun and wacky. I also appreciate that there is a glossary, quiz, and suggestions for further reading at the end of the book. I love when further engagement and information seeking is encouraged.
I See Sea Food held my attention and taught me something, and I think it will do the same for readers of all ages. A great addition to home, public, or classroom library collections.
November 9, 2019
Opening this book is like browsing through a menu at your favorite restaurant. Anyone for a Louisiana Pancake Batfish? Or how about a Chocolate Chip Sea Star? Or a Pizza Crust Sea Slug? Jenna Grodzicki offers up a buffet of unique sea creatures that are so appetizing you’ll want to sneak a bite. Each page turn reveals a colorful close-up photo of a delightfully weird-looking sea animal. Accompanying the photo is a description of the sea animal and some fast facts. But wait! There’s more! The back matter includes a glossary, an activity, and suggested books for further reading. Jenna Grodzicki has created a clever book that is not only filled with interesting information, but it begs to be read over and over.
March 7, 2020
Have you ever heard of a banana wrasse? Or a sea apple? These are just some of the strange and wonderful sea creatures featured in I See Sea Food. And they all really do look like food! Each animal gets two pages of photos and information.
This is a fantastic book for anyone with an interest in the undersea world, or who wants to see some really cool photos of sea creatures. There were a number of species I had never heard of, and the book ends with a message that while the whales and sea turtles get all the attention, there's a whole world down there to discover, and the weird creatures in it need love, too.
This review originally posted at Bookworms in the 'Burg: https://bookwormsintheburg.blogspot.c...
This is a fantastic book for anyone with an interest in the undersea world, or who wants to see some really cool photos of sea creatures. There were a number of species I had never heard of, and the book ends with a message that while the whales and sea turtles get all the attention, there's a whole world down there to discover, and the weird creatures in it need love, too.
This review originally posted at Bookworms in the 'Burg: https://bookwormsintheburg.blogspot.c...
November 17, 2019
"In addition to the clever premise--illustrating, by the way, that nonfiction can be clever and not just...nonfiction--the book is written with material simple enough to be read aloud to younger preschool readers. Then there are the blocks of facts for the older self-readers who like that kind of thing. And they are out there.
The book is illustrated with lovely photographs, not drawings. Not that there's anything wrong with drawings. But the photographs give readers a feeling that this is science, and this stuff is real. Because it is."
Excerpt from Original Content.
The book is illustrated with lovely photographs, not drawings. Not that there's anything wrong with drawings. But the photographs give readers a feeling that this is science, and this stuff is real. Because it is."
Excerpt from Original Content.
July 22, 2019
This book explores ocean creatures using a totally unique and fascinating lens--animals that look like food! The gorgeous, colorful photos introduce us to chocolate chip sea stars, Louisiana pancake batfish, cauliflower jellyfish, and more. The text is accessible and chatty, but also uses facts to explain why each creature has developed its particular adaptation. All ages will enjoy this fantastic nonfiction winner (though the sweet spot is probably around grades 1-4)! Includes substantial back matter.
October 2, 2019
I See Sea Food is chock full of fun facts about sea creatures that look like food. It has gorgeous photos that really capture each sea creature. Each page has information about the creature, including fun facts for the readers who love interesting trivia. Kids are fascinated by interested creatures and this book really captures the creatures and engages readers. This book would be a great springboard for readers to do research on their own about interesting creatures. A must-have addition to libraries and for home collections where readers are obsessed with interesting animals.
November 22, 2019
Jenna Grodzicki's new book, I SEE SEA FOOD: SEA CREATURES THAT LOOK LIKE FOOD, had me from it's clever title. And once you turn the page of this beautiful and informative book, wonder abounds. My favorite pages highlight the pizza crust sea slug and the chocolate chip sea star. The photo illustrations perfectly complement each underwater creature, and the back matter adds extra enrichment with a glossary and fun visual game. This is a perfect book for children interested in the sea, in fun foods, and in learning about nature! I hope I see some of these sea foods in real life one day too!
January 29, 2020
Luscious photographs of 9 sea creatures that could be mistaken for common human foods like chocolate chip cookies or pineapples or even cauliflower. Each double-page spread also includes a paragraph about why it looks that way, and a side bar with further "fast facts" about the creature. My favorite was the sea apple, which breathes through their butts. Not appropriate for a storytime, but worthy of a child's slow examination of each page. I kind of wished there were more creatures listed. This would have been a good book to have for my Aliens program last summer.
March 14, 2024
What a great book to introduce children to the different (not everyday) sea creatures. It was really smart to use ones with food names. I really liked the Chocolate Chip Starfish, Lettuce Sea Slug and the Sea Apple. Each one has location and description as well as Fast Facts. The photos in the book are vivid and of the actual sea creature. Great way to introduce children different sea life. The food reference will keep children engaged. Ther is also a glossary in the back with words children may not understand. Great for science class or homeschool.
June 26, 2019
Foodie and Fish Lover Delight! Oh my goodness, I adore this book. I never knew about the Australian pineapple fish, nor the chocolate chip sea stars! Former educator Jenna Grodzicki makes learning about sea creatures FUN and informative with her spotlight on these foodie connections and little known ocean dwellers. Kids will love learning about interesting fish and it will spark their curiosity to research and learn MORE! Bravo - don't miss this fun and informative book.
November 23, 2019
FUN read for elementary kids
Non fiction picture book about sea creatures that look like our everyday food :) I like how fun this book is to read. The authors have done a great job of showcasing some interesting sea creatures and how they also look like food. Learning component is real photos of not very widely known sea creatures. The food comparison will be a "hook" to remember these unusual creatures.
Non fiction picture book about sea creatures that look like our everyday food :) I like how fun this book is to read. The authors have done a great job of showcasing some interesting sea creatures and how they also look like food. Learning component is real photos of not very widely known sea creatures. The food comparison will be a "hook" to remember these unusual creatures.
March 11, 2022
Obviously I loved this because I'm a nerd for ocean things. But this was actually really cool too! I learned about several sea critters that I had never heard of! And the photos were stunning. I appreciated the amount of information on each page: there was a little summary/explanation and then some fast facts on each animal. Also included in the back is a list of resources and a glossary. Super cool. Highly recommend for animal lovers and curious readers.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews