Cora’s Beach Adventure
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- Pre-Order
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- Expected Jun 2, 2026
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- $6.99
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- Pre-Order
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- $6.99
Publisher Description
Keep kids curious with this exciting first adventure in the STEAM Street Kids early-reader series, following Cora on a day of fun, science-based adventures at the beach. Pack your beach bag and join Cora and Gran for some discoveries by the shore! Test sand to figure out what kind makes the best castle. Find out how sea animals survive low tide. Investigate sea stars in a tide pool—and rescue them from drying out. And what tops off a day at the beach better than a big ice cream sundae? The welcoming text by nonfiction author extraordinaire Sally M. Walker, ideal for early readers moving into chapter books, is followed by back matter expounding on the three STEAM concepts introduced and inviting kids to experiment with their own sandcastle-building activity.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Walker (Dirt's Journey) and Kwon (Balloon) invite readers on young Cora and her grandmother's beach adventure in this thoughtfully crafted chapter book with a STEAM-focused angle. Simple plotting featuring gentle twists and turns follows the pale-skinned protagonists as they build sandcastles and explore tide pools. In sentences designed to stretch developing readers' skills, short, sound-outable words, including Cora and Gran, appear alongside slightly more challenging vocabulary, including beach and castle. STEAM concepts are seamlessly interwoven throughout: Cora, experimenting with sand consistency, learns to adjust the building material's water content to perfect her castle, and a later discovery of a stranded sea star introduces habitats and marine life. Following a decadent ice cream sundae treat ("the perfect ending for our beach adventure," Gran notes), Cora determines to bring the wonders of her outing to her brother, Ben, "as a story! My story will have splash monsters, tide pools, and a sea-star rescue," a sentiment that encourages readers to connect observation with imagination. Sunny watercolor illustrations match the text's bright and playful tone, while back matter offers scientific facts and a hands-on sand activity, making for a highly readable adventure that champions critical thinking and creativity. Ages 5–7.
