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SEA, SAND, ME! by Patricia Hubbell

SEA, SAND, ME!

by Patricia Hubbell & illustrated by Lisa Campbell Ernst

Pub Date: June 30th, 2001
ISBN: 0-688-17378-0
Publisher: HarperCollins

A joyous celebration of the sea as seen through the eyes of a small child. Hubbell (Bouncing Time, 2000, etc.) re-creates the splendor of a day spent capering among the waves as a young child embarks upon a trip to the beach with great relish. Sprightly rhymes and a singsong rhythm combine to form a spirited salute to the sea. Hubbell touches upon all the nifty fun a youngster can have at the shore: silly seaweed hair, digging in the sand, and the unexpected pleasure of a new playmate. She even manages to make sand inside a swimsuit sound like a treat. “Sand in our belly buttons. / Sand in our pants. / We jump in the water / And dance, dance, dance.” Ernst’s pastel illustrations are in complete harmony with the tale. She deftly captures the bewitching quality of carefree beach days that adults so fondly remember and children eagerly anticipate. Inserted within several of the full-bleed spreads are smaller snapshot-styled illustrations that highlight the peaks of the child’s day: meeting her new friend, snacking on a beach towel, etc. The simply rendered drawings, gently colored in marine hues, perfectly convey the absolute bliss a day at the shore can invoke. With a lively, toe-tapping pace and sparkling pictures, this spirited romp transports readers to a day of sun and fun. (Picture book. 2-8)