Book Review from the Outstanding Creator Awards
Score: 94/100 (9.4 out of 10)
Turn reading time into an interactive adventure with yet another great children’s book by Sylvie R. Bordzuk!
There’s a whole lot to love about this book. Similar to “The Adventures of Kodie & Bella,” which we reviewed earlier, “Mystery at Sea: A Noah’s Ark Tale” is full of beautiful, colorful, eye-catching illustrations including numerous animals. This is accompanied with fun, tight writing that is never overly long and is full of simple rhymes and patterns that your children will love! Every animal/character has something clever to say, and it leaves room for prompts for younger readers such as “Which animal is this?” and “What do you think they’re looking for?”
Every page offers something new and exciting to keep the little readers engaged and interested!
If we were going to nitpick, we’d say that this book is not as original as “The Adventures of Kodie & Bella” was. For starters, there are a lot of Noah’s Ark stories. It’s probably its own sub-genre at this point. Also, if you’re looking for a story to teach the kids the actual flood story and about Noah’s Ark, this might not be the book for you because it is absent of all mention of God and the flood. That’s not to say that’s entirely a bad thing. It’s not like a parent or Sunday school teacher can’t chime in about God here or there at their own discretion.
It could even be a way to get non-religious kids acquainted with the classic Bible story without being preachy. It also chooses to add a fun twist to the story (involving Noah’s missing instrument) that makes it fresh and adds an element of mystery to keep kids wondering until the end.
Once again, this book features amazing, adorable art! The animals are numerous and varied. Each animal is drawn within reasonable proportions. The humans don’t reach the same level of cuteness or detail that the animals do, and Noah frankly looks a little bit off with an almost Hey Arnold!-shaped head. He is almost always facing the same way and almost always has one of two expressions on his face. That’s limited for a main character in an illustrated book. He nonetheless appears friendly and inviting. It’s very easy to overlook such minuscule details when this book has so many pluses. Kids won’t mind. And the human characters still carry the same lighthearted, happy feel of the book that the animal characters do.
Overall, this is another GREAT children’s book by Sylvie R. Bordzuk!
Midwest Book Review
Go on a treasure hunt with the animals on Noah’s Ark, as they search for Noah’s “what’sits-name” that disappeared. Kids are sure to enjoy the rhyming words and colorful illustrations as they cruise from the anteater all the way to the zebra to see if their favorite animals can help him. Do they solve the mystery at sea? The perfect picture book for read-alouds or for beginning readers. (Ages 2-7)
Amazon Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars A hit for little ones and grownups too!
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this wonderful, whimsical tale of animals at sea helping Noah search for his missing flute. I especially got a kick out of Sylvie Bordzuk’s playful, fun use of words and her unique style. On a personal note, I have worked musically and offered concerts in classrooms with Pre K and Kindergarten children for decades. I know a hit when I read one! Should be part of the library of all church pre schools and early learning centers!
5.0 out of 5 stars Can the animals on Noah’s Ark help solve the mystery of his missing flute?
A delightful story in which all the animals on Noah’s ark – from anteater to zebra – help Noah find his misplaced flute. The rhyming exclamations from each animal pair makes this a fun read for children who will join in the excitement.
5.0 out of 5 stars Fun book for kids!
Really sweet and fun book! I definitely recommend it!
5.0 out of 5 stars Reader can have fun making animal sounds
An adorable book. Much like the Ogden Nash text for Carnival of the Animals …but for the wee little ones!
5.0 out of 5 stars Highly recommend this wonderful read for every child
I surround my granddaughter with books and this story – and its fun rhyming prose – has quickly become her go-to. She loves the idea of all the animals living together on the boat, and as they hunt for a missing item the story becomes a fast-paced, upbeat read. Every time I say “The End,” she says, “Again!”
5.0 out of 5 stars Terrific book for young readers and as a read aloud!
Mystery at Sea is a wonderful picture-story book that is a perfect read-aloud for pre-readers and is interesting and lively for beginning readers. The story and illustrations work together to make it a page-turner for the young reader.
My 2 year old grand-daughter has a copy and I am keeping another copy at my house for when she visits!
I suspect that we will be reading this one together many times over the next few years!
Our good friends gave us this book as a gift to enjoy with our grandchildren. Couldn’t wait to read it myself. I know my grandkids ages 3 to 5 will love it as much as we do. As a retired teacher who taught reading and as a grandma, I know for sure kids will love seeing their favorite animals, colorful whimsical illustrations, and reading the fun rhyming words and phrases. Having Noah’s Ark as the setting makes this book even more special.
5.0 out of 5 stars This is a wonderful book for young readers and a must have for any library shelf
As a former elementary school teacher who understands the power of storytelling, I give this book a solid 5 star rating. The illustrations underscore the story wonderfully. I believe young readers will enjoy this book and read it many times over.
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent story!
I got this book for my grandchildren and love it so much, I just bought a copy for my great-niece. It’s colorful, the story flows and captures their attention when reading to the little ones. I can’t wait for Sylvie’s next book!!
5.0 out of 5 stars A favorite of my two year old
My son who is two loves that there are so many animals in this book. He enjoys identifying and discussing the new animal that arrives on each page. My older daughter, who is 5, follows the story and tries to solve the mystery.
Facebook Reviews – Mystery at Sea
I thought it was a lovely story! A gentle mystery with wonderful illustrations. Little ones will appreciate the simplicity of the story and parents will appreciate the sweetness behind its themes.
A delightful tale for all children! There are many opportunities for discussion, questions, and predictions!