Through poetic verse and illustrations by a Caldecott Honor artist, a circle of family and friends shows the importance of all things, great and small, as little readers follow them through a day, from morning until night.
Lovely scenic illustrations accompany this soothing poetic story of an extended family's adventures through their seaside town on a summer day. Kids will relate to many of the settings and activities, such as picking up sea shells at the beach or climbing a tree. The bright illustrations perfectly capture the character's moods and the town's gorgeous scenery while maintaining a child-like simplicity. With flowing, rhyming text that reminds kids that all objects - big or small, good or bad - make the world as we know it and have a big impact on our lives.
With so many settings to explore, kids will love digging into the illustrations and finding hidden treasures, such as a puppy riding in a wagon at the farmer's market or noticing a beach ball alone in the water after a sudden rainstorm causes everyone to rush from the beach. The basic rhymes also give young children the opportunity to chime in and interact with the story.
Emily, the three-year-old that I babysit, her mother and I all loved this story for its gorgeous illustrations and simple, honest text. After taking a look at the beach scene, Emily declared that she loved the beach and wanted to go find her own sea shells! We decided that once spring arrives and the weather clears up, we'll go on an adventure of our own so that she can see for herself how everything is connected in the world and our community.
--Abby