Beach Book Week: Beach Science Books

Science at the beach? Of course! Check out our recommended books for STEM Friday.

This post contains affiliate links (see disclosure below).

sand-footprints

The seashore is an important and dynamic area. Perhaps that’s why we humans find beaches so fascinating. Even if you can’t take a trip to the beach on your own, you may explore the science of beaches through some great children’s books.

Jump Into Science: Sand by Ellen Prager

Of course the first thing you notice at the beach is sand. Follow Sandpiper Sleuth to find out what sand is and where it came from.

Age Range: 4 – 8 years
Publisher: National Geographic Children’s Books; Reprint edition (April 25, 2006)
ISBN-10: 0792255836
ISBN-13: 978-0792255833

Ribbons of Sand: Exploring Atlantic Beaches (Children’s Books)
by Larry Points and Andrea Jauck

Learn more about the items you commonly find on Atlantic coastal beaches.

Paperback: 32 pages
Publisher: Sierra Press (April 1, 1997)
ISBN-10: 093936557X
ISBN-13: 978-0939365579

Beachcombing: Exploring the Seashore by Jim Arnosky

Jim Arnosky, an incredible naturalist, artist and award-winning children’s book author, takes the reader for a walk on the beach. Be prepared to discover more than just seashells!

Age Range: 7 – 10 years
Publisher: Puffin Books; Reprint edition (May 15, 2014)
ISBN-10: 0147511631
ISBN-13: 978-0147511638

Seashore (One Small Square) by Donald Silver and Patricia Wynne

Part of the excellent One Small Square series of books, this title explores the biology and ecology of the seashore.

Age Range: 6 and up
Publisher: McGraw-Hill; 1 edition (March 22, 1997)
ISBN-10: 0070579288
ISBN-13: 978-0070579286

Horseshoe Crabs and Shorebirds: The Story of a Food Web by Victoria Crenson

Horseshoe crabs come to shore to lay their eggs around Delaware Bay. At the same time, migratory birds arrive to feed on the eggs to sustain their trips to the far North. Explore this fascinating and increasingly threatened food web.

Age Range: 7 and up
Publisher: Two Lions; Reprint edition (March 1, 2009)
ISBN-10: 0761455523
ISBN-13: 978-0761455523

Red Knot: A Shorebird’s Incredible Journey by Nancy Carol Willis

Although the bird in this nonfiction book migrates long distances and isn’t always at the beach, one important stop on the way is Delaware Bay to feed on horseshoe crab eggs.

Age Range: 7 – 9 years
Publisher: Birdsong Books (May 1, 2006)
ISBN-10: 0966276159
ISBN-13: 978-0966276152

Want even more? See our growing list of ocean and beach science-themed children’s books at Science Books for Kids.

ocean-themed-childrens-books
sand-footprints
beach-books-for-kids-weekCheck out related Beach Books Week posts:

What is your favorite beach science book?

Did you enjoy Beach Books Week? If you choose, please let us know.

Disclosure: The books were either from the library or my personal copies. Also, I am an affiliate with Amazon so I can provide you with cover images and links to more information about books and products. As you probably are aware, if you click through the highlighted title link and purchase a product, I will receive a very small commission, at no extra cost to you. Any proceeds help defray the costs of hosting and maintaining this website.

Come visit the STEM Friday blog each week to find more great Science, Technology, Engineering and Math books.

 

flat-beach

Beach Book Week: Feet, Go To Sleep (Blog Tour)

Today we have a fabulous new picture book for a trip to the beach, and even better, we have a giveaway for a chance to win a copy! See below!

sand-footprints

Have you ever noticed that after a busy, hectic day adults are dragged out and tired, but children are often more active and emotional than usual? When this happens, bedtime can become stressful as children resist closing their eyes. The new picture book, Feet, Go to Sleep by Barbara Bottner and Maggie Smith, provides a wonderful way for parents to help their children relax after a particularly exciting day, in this case a day at the beach.

It is obvious on the very first page that Fiona is a little wound up. There she is doing a headstand on her bed instead of getting ready for sleep.

“Time to say good night,” said Mama.
“I’m not ready!” said Fiona.

Fiona uses a common meditation technique to progressively relax. She starts with her toes and moves through her body telling each part to “go to sleep.” That alone might not have made an entertaining book to read, but using a clever parallel storytelling technique, Barbara Bottner relates the relaxation of each body part with an activity that occurred during the trip to the beach that day. First went the toes, which during the day had been wearing flip flops, the knees were used to build a sand castle, etc. Remembering the day also reinforces the good feelings she experienced and adds to the growing sense of calm.

Smith’s illustrations enhance the dual story line. Bright scenes from the day fill each two-page spread. Inset in a smaller box in each spread is a view which shows Fiona progressively relaxing in her bedroom at night. To emphasize the contrast, the bedtime illustration is predominantly filled with cool, calming colors.

Feet, Go to Sleep is an absolutely perfect book to pack for a trip, whether to the beach or elsewhere. It will help prevent too much excitement and/or being in an unfamiliar place from interfering with a restful night. It is guaranteed to become favorite bedtime reading for parents and children alike.

Related activities:

Looking for more ways to help children relax?

1. Blowing bubbles

bubble-blowing164

Bring a small bottle of bubble formula and a bubble wand on trips. Blowing bubbles is especially helpful because blowing requires deep breathing, a known relaxation technique.

2. Coloring

crayons-245Bring some crayons and paper or coloring books for quiet time. Using crayons to color has recently seen an upsurge in popularity as a relaxation technique for adults, as well. Have you tried it?

3. Spending time outdoors

beach-digging-holeTime outdoors can help reduce stress. For children in this age group, sand and water play at the beach or even at a nearby sandbox, can be particularly relaxing. A few sand toys or even sturdy waterproof containers (not glass) add to the fun.

Age Range: 3 – 7 years
Grade Level: Preschool – 2
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers (May 12, 2015)
ISBN-10: 0449813258
ISBN-13: 978-0449813256

Feet, Go To Sleep Giveaway

Would you like to try to win a copy of Feet, Go To Sleep? Simply sign into Rafflecopter (U.S. mailing addresses only, please). It will ask you to leave a comment on this blog post and/or like our FaceBook page by May 22, 2015 at 12:00 a.m. Eastern Standard Time. A single winner will be selected at random by Rafflecopter and I will notify the winner via e-mail.

The giveaway is now closed.

Be sure to visit all the Feet, Go To Sleep 2015 Blog Tour Stops:

5/12 Booktalking #kidlit – Learn about Barbara Bottner’s writing process.

5/13 GoodReadsWithRonna -with another chance to win copies through a giveaway!

5/14 Here at Wrapped in Foil

5/15 Teaching Authors -celebrates with poetry and another giveaway!

5/16 Big Hair and Books– more about the author

5/18 Frog on a Blog

5/19 Chapter Book Chat – special interview with the author

5/20 In Bed With Books

5/21 Shelf-employed

sand-footprints
beach-books-for-kids-weekCheck out related Beach Books Week posts with more beach book and activity suggestions:

Disclosure: The book was provided by the publisher for review purposes. Also, I am an affiliate with Amazon so I can provide you with cover images and links to more information about books and products. As you probably are aware, if you click through the highlighted title link and purchase a product, I will receive a very small commission, at no extra cost to you. Any proceeds help defray the costs of hosting and maintaining this website.

Beach Book Week: Beach Reads for Older Kids

Looking for beach-themed books, either to prepare children for a trip to the beach or for reading during down time at the seashore? Join us throughout the week as we celebrate sand between our toes with a series of posts highlighting children’s books about beaches!

This post contains affiliate links (see disclosure below).

sand-footprints

Middle Grade:

Junonia by Kevin Henkes

Almost ten-year-old Alice Rice loves the family tradition of celebrating her birthdays in a cottage on the Florida beach. This year she has the faintest sense of foreboding, however, as the rental car passes over the bridge. Who will be able to come to her party? And will she finally find the rare and highly-prized junonia shell (featured on the cover)?

In this lovely book, Henkes has perfectly captured the conflicting feelings of a young girl caught between the immaturity of childhood and the growing maturity of adolescence. Front matter includes illustrations of some common Florida seashells.

Highly recommended!

Age Range: 8 – 12 years
Grade Level: 3 – 7
Paperback: 192 pages
Publisher: Greenwillow Books; Reprint edition (April 24, 2012)
ISBN-10: 0061964190
ISBN-13: 978-0061964190

Turtle in Paradise by Jennifer L. Holm

When Turtle’s mother finds a much-needed job during the Great Depression, Turtle is sent to the Key West to stay with her aunt whom she has never met. Discover Florida as Turtle discovers herself.

This is a Newbery Honor Book.

Age Range: 8 – 12 years
Grade Level: 3 – 7
Paperback: 208 pages
Publisher: Yearling; Dgs Rep edition (December 27, 2011)
ISBN-10: 037583690X
ISBN-13: 978-0375836909

Young Adult:

 

We Were Liarsby E. Lockhart

Cadence has gone to her family’s private island off the coast of Massachusetts every summer of her childhood. Something happened while she was there during the summer of her fifteenth year, however, and now she doesn’t remember much about it. Will going back help her figure out what happened?

For mature young adults, We Were Liars features a main character who is also an unreliable narrator.

Recommended in the 2015 Best Fiction for Young Adults list.

Age Range: 12 and up
Grade Level: 7 and up
Hardcover: 240 pages
Publisher: Delacorte Press; First Edition edition (May 13, 2014)
ISBN-10: 038574126X
ISBN-13: 978-0385741262

 

sand-footprints
beach-books-for-kids-weekCheck out related Beach Books Week posts with many more book and activity suggestions (active links will be added through the week):

What is your favorite beach read for older kids?

Disclosure: The books were either from the library or my personal copies. Also, I am an affiliate with Amazon so I can provide you with cover images and links to more information about books and products. As you probably are aware, if you click through the highlighted title link and purchase a product, I will receive a very small commission, at no extra cost to you. Any proceeds help defray the costs of hosting and maintaining this website.

Picture Book Beach Reads for Kids

Looking for beach-themed books, either to prepare children for a trip to the beach or for reading during down time at the seashore? Join us throughout the week as we celebrate sand between our toes with a series of posts highlighting children’s books about beaches!

(This post contains affiliate ads. Please see disclosure below.)

 

sand-footprints

Today we’re going to feature a few new and slightly older picture books that are the ultimate beach reads for the youngest set.

Chu’s Day at the Beach by Neil Gaiman and illustrated by Adam Rex

Big things happen when Chu sneezes. In this newest in the series, Chu’s sneezes take him on an adventure to the beach. This silly book is sure to elicit at least a few giggles.

Age Range: 4 – 8 years
Publisher: HarperCollins (April 7, 2015)
ISBN-10: 0062223992
ISBN-13: 978-0062223999

Beach by Elisha Cooper

It is the illustrations that will catch your eye with this one. Instead of full blown paintings, the pencil and watercolor illustrations are like a series of sketches, catching just the barest of moments in time. For example, instead of one stylish wave, there is a two-page spread of “sketches” of all the wonderful wave shapes you might encounter. The words help finish the paintings:

Waves come in hills and valleys,
in mountains and canyons.

Quiet, contemplative and beautiful!

Age Range: 3 – 5 years
Publisher: Orchard Books; Big edition (June 1, 2006)
ISBN-10: 0439687853
ISBN-13: 978-0439687850

Ladybug Girl at the Beach by David Soman, who also illustrates the series, and his wife Jacky Davis

Ladybug Girl at the Beach is an excellent choice to introduce young children to things that might happen at the beach before they actually go.

What’s to love about the series:

  • Definite child appeal (who hasn’t wanted ladybug wings?)
  • Realistic problems and solutions, not preachy
  • Children going outside to enjoy nature
  • Ladybug girl has a cute age-appropriate tummy bulge

Through the wonders of the Internet, a reading of Ladybug Girl at the Beach by Liz Shanks:

 

Reading level: Ages 4-8
Hardcover: 40 pages
Publisher: Dial (May 18, 2010)
ISBN-10: 0803734166
ISBN-13: 978-0803734166

Beach Day by Karen Roosa and illustrated by Maggie Smith

Told in playful verse, this picture book captures a perfect day at the beach right down to the fried chicken and deviled egg picnic for lunch.

Grade Level: Preschool – 3
Hardcover: 40 pages
Publisher: Clarion Books (March 19, 2001)
ISBN-10: 0618029230
ISBN-13: 978-0618029235

Seashells by the Seashore by Marianne Berkes and illustrated by Robert Noreika

Walking the line between fiction and nonfiction, this lovely book has many levels. It is a counting book, a seashell identification guide, and much, much more.

Age Range: 5 and up
Grade Level: Kindergarten and up
Paperback: 32 pages
Publisher: Dawn Pubns; 1 edition (March 1, 2002)
ISBN-10: 1584690348
ISBN-13: 978-1584690344

Activity Books

Need something to keep your children engaged during the car or airplane ride to the beach? How about these fun activity books?
At the Beach (Dover Coloring Books) by Cathy Beylon

Age Range: 3 – 8 years
Grade Level: Preschool – 2
Series: Dover Coloring Books
Paperback: 32 pages
Publisher:  Dover Publications; (July 26, 2004)
ISBN-10: 0486436438
ISBN-13: 978-0486436432

Cats at the Beach Stickers (Dover Stickers) by Beth J. Logan

cats-at-the-beach

Age Range: 6 and up
Grade Level: 1 and up
Series: Dover Stickers
Paperback: 4 pages
Publisher: Dover Publications; Stk edition (September 3, 2008)
ISBN-10: 0486467848
ISBN-13: 978-0486467849

Check Dover Publications for Coloring books for Children – image and create.
sand-footprints
beach-books-for-kids-weekCheck out related Beach Books Week posts with many more book and activity suggestions (active links will be added through the week):

What is your favorite beach-related picture book?

Disclosure: The books were supplied by my local library. Also, I am an affiliate with Amazon so I can provide you with cover images and links to more information about books and products. As you probably are aware, if you click through the highlighted title link and purchase a product, I will receive a very small commission, at no extra cost to you. Any proceeds help defray the costs of hosting and maintaining this website.