It has officially become that time of year where everyone is getting antsy for a break from winter. Spring Break is just around the corner for many families and even if you aren’t one of the lucky ones who will be heading to the beach in a couple weeks I have some fun beach themed books from Sleeping Bear Press to share with you.
First up is Otter Out of Water by Katehy-jo Wargin and illustrated by John Bendall-Brunello. This is the third rhyming book of silliness and animals from this author/illustrator team and was an instant hit with my two girls. Otter Out of Water starts at the beach when a couple of children meet an otter. My girls loved reading this book because of all the interactive questions put forth during the course of the book that ask such silly questions as ::
But what if that otter jumps out of the water?
Would you shout, hip-hooray?
Would you ask him to play?
The book proceeds to ask a series of increasingly silly and random questions about what one would do with an Otter Out of Water. Intended for ages 5-8 and a Grade 2 reading level, this book is 32 pages long and is full of great illustrations to go with all the silly Otter Out of Water questions.
Next up is S is for Sea Glass: A Beach Alphabet, writtenby Richard Michelson and illustrated by Doris Ettlinger. My 6-year-old has recently discovered poetry and it was fun to read all the different poems for each of the letters with her. While most alphabet books are aimed at a much younger crowd, S is for Sea Glass: A Beach Alphabet is intended for ages 7-10 and a Grade 4 reading level.
The author of S is for Sea Glass: A Beach Alphabet, Richard Michelson, is actually a current Poet Laureate of Northhampton, Massachusetts who travels the country teaching children the joys of poetry. The poems from S is for Sea Glass: A Beach Alphabet were written on the beaches of Martha’s Vineyard where Richard, his wife and their dog spend a lot of time.
The “I is for Ice” page was a personal favorite of ours as the shores of Lake Michigan currently resemble the illustrations in the page and the poem that was included.
I’ve never been here in the winter before.
Waves, like waiters, keep bringing ice cubes to the shore
Which looks like a magical ice castle floor
Of diamonds that shimmer and crystals the glisten,
And when the wind blows I can hear if I listen
The King who keeps roaring for more ice, and more.
Fun reads from Sleeping Bear Press to get in the mood for a Spring Break trip to the beach or those coming days of summer!
Otter Out of Water :: $15.95 hardcover
S is for Sea Glass: A Beach Alphabet :: $15.95 hardcover
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