Kai’s Ocean of Curiosities

Written By Tara Lewis

Picture Book, Written and illustrated by Joséphine Topolanski
Published by Blue Dot Kids Press

Kai is an ocean explorer with a vivid red diving suit and a bright yellow submarine that takes her to depths of the sea where she encounters fascinating marine life. When she leaves the safety of her submarine, named Nessy, her protective suit allows her to breathe as she swims among the blooms of jellyfish, schools of squid, and pulsating coral reef. Kai marvels at the dazzling colors, abundant shapes, and secret places where so many beautiful and sometimes strange creatures live—in the peaceful, breathtaking, and alive ocean.

Kai’s Ocean of Curiosities is truly a book experience for all ages, young and old. Joséphine Topolanski’s purposeful economy of words gives each sentence an expressive weight, while her unique illustrations use a precision of lines and pops of color against a monotone background to similarly convey a vastness and marvel that is the ocean world. Topolanski’s prose has a poetry to its simplicity, combining education and storytelling that will attract educators and enthusiasts of nature and marine biology. With a pictorial glossary at the back of the book that explains the various sea life noted throughout the story, this delightful read-aloud for the younger set is also a fascinating informational offering for intermediate readers. 

Reviewed by Tara Lewis

Tara Lewis

I am an experienced children’s book marketing professional with more than twenty years in the children’s book publishing industry. I have insight into the workings of children’s book publishers and internal operations and processes, having managed a global marketing department as a Director at Disney Publishing Worldwide for six years and managed teams at Scholastic Inc. for six years, before opening my own children’s book marketing business.

I have worked with a broad range of children’s original titles in the picture book, middle-grade, and young adult categories. I have also spearheaded the campaigns for many licensed book series such as Scooby-Doo, Disney Princess, Harry Potter paperbacks, Pokemon, Powerpuff Girls, Marvel, Lego, Tinkerbell, Matchbox, Winnie the Pooh, and Baby Einstein.

My marketing planning included not only devising the strategies but also conducting competitive analysis reports, writing press releases, articles, blogs, catalog copy, and news pieces for the product. I worked on a daily basis with the editorial teams to bring a successful book to market.

As a freelancer, I provide the following services:

-Marketing plan development (strategy, tactics, social, deliverables, etc.)

-Writing press releases, author bios, catalog copy, book blurbs

-Market research and competitive analysis

-Creating book proposals for authors to submit to publishing houses. Also query letters.

-Book editing and proofreading

-Book reviews

My areas of specialty are picture books, middle-grade, and YA. I love working with self-published authors to help them navigate and understand the publishing process. I also enjoy working with seasoned publishing veterans.

I have an impeccable career history at the highest level at the best publishing houses in the world. Let me help you - and your book - make the leap from good to great! I will help your book get the exposure and readership that it deserves.

https://www.taralewisbooks.com/
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