Of all the movie tie-in books for Disney’s Moana, there is one that sets itself apart by not merely repeating the film’s plot. Moana and the Ocean is a sweet picture book with very little text, but a lot of beautiful artwork. It is also the one best suited for preschoolers and for use as a bedtime story.
Moana and the Ocean is told in very few words from the viewpoint of the sea. The main focus is on the artwork by animation artist Annette Marnat and many of the pages are just art, no text. Her style is very unique and the colors are breathtaking.
The book is a celebration of Moana’s adventurous spirit and accomplishments. It presents a few vignettes from the story, but the only characters in the book besides Moana and the Ocean is Grandma Tala and Pua.
Moana and the Ocean is a beautifully simplistic story. It will be more meaningful for readers who feel a strong connection to the film, but is also a nice way to introduce kids to the character who might be too young for the high action climax.