A Beach Tail
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- $15.99
Publisher Description
How will Gregory find his way back to Dad? Swish-swoosh . . . Gregory draws a lion in the sand. "Don't go in the water, and don't leave Sandy," warns Dad. But the sandy lion grows a tail that gets longer and longer—and soon Gregory is lost on the beach. This wonderful read-aloud book brings to life a summer experience that is all too familiar for young children. Karen Williams's rhythmic text has been paired with Floyd Cooper's brilliant illustrations, revealing the trip down the beach entirely from a child's point of view. A gentle father-son bond is shown in both text and art, reassuring young readers even as they share in Greg's moment of worry at finding himself lost and alone.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
At the beach with his father, Greg strays from his beach umbrella, but stays calm and remembers the two things Dad told him: Don t go in the water, and don t leave Sandy. Sandy is a lion Greg has drawn in the sand, and because Greg hasn t lifted the stick with which he has drawn Sandy s long, long tail (circling, as he goes, a jellyfish, a horseshoe crab, and other beachside marvels), he s able to retrace his steps to find his father, who s delighted to see him. Cooper (The Blacker the Berry) draws a startlingly real Greg in a series of tight closeups; readers will feel they can reach out and touch him. Grainy pastel and washed-out color evoke the seashore s bleached palette, while Greg s reverent attention to the treasures he finds is the focus of every page. The representation of an African-American father and child in a nonurban setting is welcome, while Williams s (Four Feet, Two Sandals) even pacing and soothing text reassure children without losing momentum. Most valuable, though, is Williams s belief in Greg and his resourcefulness; quiet satisfaction pervades his story. Ages 3 7.
