Bringing the Beach Home

K-Gr 3–Rowan is unhappy about going back and forth between Mom and Dad so when the father suggests a drive, Rowan is not interested. Then they end up at the beach. Initially, Rowan is not too thrilled—the sand is hot, the water too wavy. But then Rowan notices the pattern of the waves and begins to enjoy the experience. As the day winds down, to help Rowan stay warm, Rowan’s dad covers the child with sand; they take a few findings home and create a hanging array to remind them of the beach. The warm artwork is a nice addition to the gentle text. There are themes of making a change and appreciating nature and family. It might also be a good springboard for discussing safety at the beach: the hot sand, the waves, and burying people in the sand are all dangers that could be topics for conversation. Although this book starts out addressing the difficulties of living in two different places it’s really about a day at the beach.