Gibbons's penchant for creating interesting, informative nonfiction books for young children appears to be fathomless. Here, she opens the world of island living to mainlanders, providing insight into the activities that occupy the islanders' way of life. The informative text and illustrations transcend the seasons and detail the changes that take place there. The uncluttered, cartoonlike illustrations are clearly labeled and show, for example, the various kinds of boats to be found, how a lobster is trapped, the different kinds of nets used in deep sea fishing, and the tiny village itself, nestled among the rocks and dunes. Life on the island is insular, but for those who live there, it is never dull. Bright and cheerful describe the watercolor pictures, and they are in total complement to the brief text on each page. Clean in appearance, the book offers insightful information in a manner as fresh as a sea breeze. It lends itself naturally to units on where and how others live. Children will want to be Surrounded by Sea as soon as they spy the colorful dust jacket. --Mary Lou Budd, Milford South Elementary School, OH Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.