Voice of the sea by John Williamson. Illus. by Andrea Innocent & Jonathan Chong

Singer songwriter John Williamson has used his prodigious talents to pen a hymn for the sea. He poses the question, ‘where did it go, your love for me?’ as he surveys the sea around our island. Children will instantly understand that he is talking of the way we have misused the sea, killing animals, overfishing, pouring our rubbish into it, allowing oil spills to smother the bird and animal life.

He wrote this song after a request from The Australian Marine Conservation Society and his song is a wake up call to all those people who hold the sea and its inhabitants dear. He impels us to question what is being done to the seas in our name, and asks again, ‘where did it go, your love for me?’

A video clip can be viewed here. The playing of this clip will encourage readers to listen and sing along with the  ballad. They will notice the descriptions of the harm we have piled upon the sea. The song includes a reference to past transgressions, and the destruction of the coral reefs, many animals and birds. And a look at this video shows children singing the song, including a group singing with signing. 

Wonderfully complementing the text are the illustrations by Andrea Innocent and Jonathan Chong, and more about this duo can be found here. The two are extremely accomplished artists having experience and expertise in design as well as illustration. 

Within each page can be found examples of our misuse of the sea and its inhabitants. The first few pages show the sea: clear and blue with sunlight reaching the ocean floor, but soon this all changes, as the sea becomes murky, the corals die, and animals are snapped up in huge nets. The turtle shows us what we are doing to the sea, as it swims across the oceans, carrying many recreational people, fishermen, an oil rig, ships and ski boats. None of these are designed to protect the thing we love. The images shown on each page will make readers stop and think about what impact we have upon the sea, as they spy many fish being hauled up, plastic littering the sea, animals trapped in bags, the sea dark and murky. Readers will have no illusions about the impact of human kind upon the sea, and through  both the text and illustrations, wonder what they can do.

A wonderful read aloud, sing a long and discussion starter, young readers will ask this to be read over again, singing along with the video clip, then asking what they can do. 

A wonderful touch is the companion between the first and last endpapers, enough detail for readers to engage their curiosity.

Themes: Environment, Litter, Pollution, Renewables.

Fran Knight