SAND DOLLARS BY THE SEASHORE

A simple rhyme helps beachgoers learn how to care for sand dollars in Creel’s picture book.

An anonymous narrator welcomes readers to the wonders of the beach, where there are many treasures, including shells, stones, and sand dollars, which are all easy to find along the shore. The text notes that sand dollars are animals, and that brown ones are still alive. Gray ones are not and have dried out in the sun. The narrator then explains how to handle the latter and prepare to take them home, ending with a rhyming rule: “If it’s brown leave it down; if it’s grey, it’s okay.” Creel’s simple phrasing is easy to memorize and is sure to inspire youngsters to be more mindful about what they collect at the seashore. The small amount of text on each page, geared toward emergent or lap readers, is presented in straightforward couplets, making the book an approachable way to introduce an animal-friendly concept. Keywords are presented in a different color to draw the eye. Kres’ soft-edged, full-color illustrations present two large-eyed children, one with bronze skin and blond hair, and another with paler skin and dark hair. The bright shells and mostly realistic sand dollars will give readers a solid idea of what to look for on the sand.

An easy-to-understand guide with an important message for young shell collectors.