Can you imagine life as an oyster farmer? How are tiny baby oysters grown in the water? Find out from eleven-year-old Sam and his twin sister Kate, who take you on a guided tour of their family oyster farm in Maine. Full of fascinating facts as well as vivid photographs and illustrations, Farming on the Sea is author Kellie Peters’s fun and educational look at the world of aquaculture that is certain to engage children ages seven- to ten-years-old who are curious about nature and science. It’s a one-of-a-kind work of nonfiction that brings this vivid world to life for inquisitive young minds. Young Sam knows all about oyster farming. After all, his parents own a farm in the Damariscotta River, a tidal estuary of midcoast Maine. Now, he shares everything he has learned with children everywhere. First, Sam invites us to join his sister Kate and his dad as they spend a day at an aquaculture hatchery, where tiny baby oysters will be grown to be sent to their farm, Norumbega Oyster. He explains that oysters are mollusks and what it means to be this type of shellfish, including a sketch of the inside of an American oyster. At the shellfish hatchery, he and Kate inspect the large tubes of algae that are fed to mature oysters so they will spawn baby oysters. They also look through a microscope to see the tiny oyster seed. From there, they head out on the water to care for all the oysters on their sea farm, discussing the many creatures of the sea and the land that they see along the way on the coastal waters in the Northeast, including ospreys, ducks, seals, and even whales. Then it’s time to get to work, lifting bags of six-month-old oysters out of the water to check them. Dad puts on his SCUBA gear to dive to the bottom of the sea to pick up the three-year-old oysters they are going to sell. Sam explains how to harvest the oysters, which will be delivered to restaurants and seafood shops for everyone to enjoy. Farming on The Sea also includes a glossary; U.S. and world maps that show what aquaculture species are grown where; a detailed diagram of the inside of an oyster; as well as suggested references so children can learn more about the subject. It also features facts that are aligned with the National Science Standards, a table of contents, and an index. Easy-to-read and packed with invaluable information, Farming on the Sea offers a real-life view of the wonderful world beneath the sea that is certain to encourage young readers to cultivate a lifelong love of science, one delicious oyster at a time.
