The Adventures of Camellia N. Under The Sea


Children - Grade K-3rd
40 Pages
Reviewed on 08/05/2017
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Author Biography

An avid reader, I wrote my first story when I was just six years old. I wrote every day for months with my tools of the trade, a #2 pencil and crayons!

The idea for my environmentally-focused children’s series, The Adventures of Camellia N., came to life first in my dreams. I believe authentic stories come from within. My father, an early pioneer in sustainability; recycled, reused and taught me to take care of and protect our wildlife. This innate appreciation for our environment has been an inspiration for my series.

Debbie is a Visiting Professor of Communication at Pepperdine University in Malibu, California and a senior marketing consultant. She is the recipient of numerous professional, academic and service awards, including the global Charles H. Sandage Excellence in Teaching Award.

Debbie received her Master’s Degree from Harvard University, launched nationwide TV campaigns for children; wrote, produced and directed celebrated children’s TV specials, as well as worked with the major entertainment studios and non-profit groups.

    Book Review

Reviewed by Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite

The Adventures of Camellia N. Under The Sea is an educational adventure book for children, grades K-3, written by Debra L. Wideroe and illustrated by Daniela Frongia. Bedtime is an especially exciting time for Camellia N. Each night, she goes on an exciting new adventure. This time, accompanied by her plushie Maui dolphin, Camellia N. finds herself deep beneath the waves, and she’s amazed to discover that her head is in a glass orb, like a fish bowl, and there’s a square little polka-dotted fish smiling in at her. He introduces himself as Oscar and explains that the bowl lets her breathe underwater. Oscar loves his underwater world and is quite pleased and proud to show Camellia N. the sights. She’s on a yellow sea scooter and can easily keep up with her new finny friend as he swims along. Camellia N. is stunned by all the colors, varieties of plant life and all the different fish and other living creatures that she sees everywhere she looks. She even meets a strange and toothy hammerhead shark, who’s actually frightened of Camellia N. at first, until Oscar reassures him that Camellia N. is there to learn more about their environment.

Debra L. Wideroe’s educational adventure book for children, grades K-3, The Adventures of Camellia N. Under The Sea, is a sheer delight to read, no matter what your age. Each of Daniela Frongia’s masterful illustrations glows with color and intensity, and everywhere you look, you’ll find creatures of all colors, shapes and sizes peering back at you. These panels are all quite suitable for framing for a child’s bedroom, and reading this enchanting tale during story-time will be a bit more involved and exciting than with your usual picture book. There really is that much to discover on each page. Wideroe’s tale introduces the undersea environment, demystifies the dreaded shark, and explains the importance of the coral reef to earth’s ecosystem, and it teaches without ever letting on that there is some real learning going on along with the excitement and adventure. The Adventures of Camellia N. Under The Sea is most highly recommended.

Gisela Dixon

The Adventures of Camellia N. Under The Sea by Debra Wideroe is an entertaining as well as an educational book for young children. This is one in a series of books about the adventures of Camellia N. where a small child named Camellia explores and travels the world in her dreams. In this book, Camellia explores the ocean in a dream. In this story, she finds herself underwater among the fish, sea creatures, and coral reefs. She makes friends with a fish named Oscar, among others, who introduces her to some of the plant and animal life underwater. She is then later taken on a tour in a submarine to the deeper depths of the ocean, where she encounters creatures rarely seen who can live in almost complete darkness. During this travel adventure, Camellia meets whales, sharks, sea horses, numerous fish, and also learns about the importance of plankton and coral reefs in the ecology of the oceans.

This is a great book for young children who will not only enjoy the book as a nice story in itself, but will also learn about our environment and earth’s natural resources. The Adventures of Camellia N. Under The Sea combines story-telling with classroom education, which will hopefully help to raise a generation that is conscious of the global environment on earth. I also liked the depiction of a female leader in charge of the submarine, and that also sends a strong, subconscious message to young children on the equality of genders. What I also enjoyed about the book as much as the writing and the plot itself were the illustrations. They are colorful, vivid, and bright and indeed made me want to go back to look at them again just to enjoy the details of the drawings and the various sea creatures. Overall, this is a book that is suitable for children of any age to read or to read aloud to and I would highly recommend it.

Emily-Jane Hills Orford

Imagination, dreams, the power to create, the innovative ability to entertain oneself and to do so without the benefit of technology. In this fast-paced world of electronic entertainment, this is something that is quickly disappearing from the realm of young people. And, in so doing, they are missing out on so much. Camellia N. is not afraid to use her imagination. She loves to dream, to create and to entertain herself. And, in so doing, she is also opening her mind to a world of wonderful new things to learn and appreciate. As her father tucks her into bed at night, he asks her if she’s ready for another adventure, as this is when Camellia N. has her most exciting and fascinating adventures: in her dreams. And, in these dreams, she learns so much about the world around her.

Debra L. Wideroe’s charming picture book story, The Adventures of Camellia N. Under the Sea, is one in a series of entertaining and educational books for young readers. The story encourages readers to use their imagination, to dream, to create and to open their minds to learning more about the planet. In this book, Camellia N. takes the reader on an adventure under the sea, where she learns about so many fascinating creatures and sea life. With “a fish bowl on her head” to help her breathe underwater, and a yellow scooter, the little girl is well prepared for an adventure in her world of dreams. The illustrations by Daniela Frongia are colorful and really bring this story to life. Some key words throughout the story are written in bold and stand out, allowing the young reader to start recognizing new words.

Susan Kaye, B&N Biokseller, Store # 2751

Bravo to Debra Wideroe and her book series, The Adventures of Camellia N. In this second book, Camellia N. takes us on an exploration under the sea. With positive messaging, this richly illustrated story not only engages, educates, and entertains but inspires children to cherish, respect, and protect our environment. Little Camellia N. might be a pint - size explorer, but her adventures are huge. This is a terrific book selection that children will enjoy and learn from over and over again!!!