Picture Books Set at the Beach
Article excerpt
These picture books set at the beach will get kids excited to play in the waves, build sand castles, and smell the salt air.
Going to the beach every year was one of my favorite parts of summer when I was growing up. And it still is. Now that summer has officially begun, it’s time to go to the beach. But if you can’t go to the beach, reading about the beach might just be the next best thing.
These three picture books will hype up young book lovers (and the adults reading with them) for long days playing in the waves, building sand castles, spying on seagulls, and smelling the salt air. And perhaps more importantly, each picture book also highlights how the beach is a setting that emphasizes connection. That might be a connection with extended family and yearly traditions, or a connection with a new friend. Or it even might be a connection with the environment and a shared responsibility to keep the beach clean. Celebrate the beach, until you can make it there IRL, with these picture books set at the beach!
Big Family Beach Day by Nina Crews
Inspired by the author’s own childhood, this vibrant and colorful picture book tells the story of Maya, who gets together with her extended family once a year at the beach. Maya enjoys splashing in the waves, playing on the shore, and getting to eat “the best sandwich ever.” But most of all, readers feel the love Maya has for her mom, grandma, aunts, uncles, and cousins.
Hello, Ocean! by Corinna Luyken
A young girl delights in all of the elements of a foggy beach morning as she greets everything she sees, from the sand to the wind to the sea kelp. But then she begins to see human-made trash. With less delight, but obvious determination, she and her parents clean it up together before returning to the fun of a day at the beach. I love how the author avoids being preachy in this book but still manages to weave in a powerful message about litter and responsibility.
Swashby and the Sea by Beth Ferry and Juana Martinez-Neal
Swashby is a retired sea captain who enjoys the peace and quiet of living on the beach. But when a young girl and her grandmother move into the empty house next door, the beach gets a lot less peaceful. Swashby tries to write cranky messages to the girl in the sand, like, “NO TRESPASSING.” But the ocean waves wipe out most of the message, so instead the girl sees “SING” and follows directions…loudly. While Swashby misses his solitude and is resistant to change, the sea serves as a matchmaker to give the grumpy old pirate the connection he really needs.
If you want more children’s books about the beach to read, here are some suggestions of children’s books about the ocean, a list of mermaid picture books, and a roundup of 50 books featuring pirates. Happy summer reading!