Little Jessie's Beach Fun

In Nat’s debut picture book, a young girl spends the day exploring and learning at the beach with her dad.

Jessie is very excited as she and her dad prepare to head out for the day. She puts on her favorite dress, a matching hat, and sandals and sets off with him on a walk to the beach. Once they arrive, she watches the waves, meets a little crab, and decides to build a sand castle for her new crustacean friend to live in. When she heads home, she reflects on what a great day she had. Overall, Nat offers a sweet tale that focuses on friendship and family. Jessie and her father are shown to have a good relationship as they hold hands and share thoughts while walking down the beach: “She pointed at the tides and said to her dad, ‘It’s like they are singing a song.’ ” He also personally introduces her to the crab on the beach by picking it up and putting it in her hand. Going to the beach is an exciting prospect for Jessie because it’s not only fun in itself, it also means spending quality time with her father. A beach trip is about exploration as well—Jessie is thrilled to see the baby crab in the sand and enjoys how it climbs up on her shoulder and tickles her. A sign of friendship from the creature inspires her to build a house for him as a kindness, and she’s rewarded for her efforts: “Jessie enjoyed looking at the baby crab settling in his new home.” With its easy vocabulary and repetition, this is a story that will be ideal for youngsters who are practicing their reading skills. The simple, brightly colored illustrations by Kumari effectively reflect what’s happening in the text, which will allow children to easily interpret any unfamiliar words.

A cute story that imparts lessons for kids about friendship and family.