Manfish: A Story of Jacques Cousteau
Written by Jennifer Berne; Illustrated by Eric Puybaret

In this wonderfully inspiring biography we learn of a boy who loved the sea and dreamed of flying underwater. We follow him as he plays, experiments and creates until his dream comes true. We are reminded to celebrate the life of one who so poetically became a spokesman for and protector of the sea. Beautiful illustrations entice us to follow Jacques Cousteau to his underwater kingdom and share his adventures.

Biographical Sketches:

Jennifer Berne has spent twenty-five years working as an advertising copywriter and writer of award winning TV commercials. This is her first book. She believes that nonfiction subjects should be written as beautifully and creatively as the best of fiction writing. She is from New York City but spends summers cruising the Maine coast with her artist husband on a boat they designed themselves. You might see her work in Nick Jr. magazine where she is currently a contributing writer.

Eric Puybaret is an award-winning illustrator from Vichy, France. He was particularly excited to have worked on Manfish: A Story of Jacques Cousteau because he spends much of his free time diving and enjoying the sea. He also illustrated Puff the Magic Dragon by Peter Yarrow.

Suggested Activities:

  1. Jacques Cousteau believed that each of us has a responsibility to protect the earth. Have a discussion about how you might do that and make posters to share your ideas with your school.
  1. Jacques Cousteau followed his dreams.  Draw a picture or write a story about the dream you would like to follow.
  1. Make origami sea creatures. Incorporate them into a mobile.
  1. Make a list of all of the food we get from the ocean and compare that to food we get from fresh water.
  1. Locate and label all the oceans and seas on a world map.
  1. Listen to a CD of ocean sounds while you work on an ocean mural.
  1. Make a mobile of some things you find at the shore.
  1. Cousteau was a filmmaker; make your own film of the nature that surrounds you.

Companion Books:

Caynes, Katie. 1001 Things to Spot in the Sea. Usborne, 2003.
Davies, Nicola. Oceans and Seas. Kingfisher,  2007.
Davis, Buddy. Sensational Sea Creatures. Master Books, 2007.
Donaldson, Julie. The Snail and the Whale. Puffin, 2006.
Dover. Sea Life. Dover Publications, 2006.
Guiberson, Brenda. Into the Sea. Henry Holt & Company, 2000.
Harris, Caroline. I Wonder Why Whales Sing: and Other Questions About Sea Life. Kingfisher,  2008.
Javna, Sophie. The New 50 Simple Things You Can Do to Save the Earth. McMeel Publishing, 2009.
Johnson, Jinny. Childrens’ Guide to Sea Creatures. Simon & Schuster, 1998.
Montroll, John. Origami Sea Life. Dover, 1991.
Olmstead, Kathleen. Jacques Cousteau: A Life Under the Sea. Sterling, 2008.
Yaccarino, Dan. The Fantastic Undersea Life of Jacques Cousteau. Knoph, 2009.
Zronik, John. Jacques Cousteau: Conserving Undersea Worlds. Crabtree, 2007.

Books Illustrated by Eric Puybaret:
Yarrow, Peter and Lenny Lipton.  Puff the Magic Dragon.  Sterling, 2007.

Websites:

http://www.cousteaukids.org/
This website offers a wonderful Get to Know Jacques Cousteau page as well as a creature feature and a membership to become a Cousteau Kid.

http://www.calstatela.edu/faculty/eviau/edit557/oceans/linda/loceans.htm
This site titled Welcome to Oceanlife for Kids, offers a lesson for younger students, a quiz, and fun things to do online or print out.

http://www.calstatela.edu/faculty/eviau/edit557/oceans/linda/loceans.htm
This website from the Monterey Bay Museum offers many games and activities for suggested age and grade levels.

http://www.thankyouocean.org/for_kids
This is a wonderful website for all ages with ways to help the ocean.  The home page lets you listen to the waves on the beach.