Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 1-A young boy walks down to the seashore with his mother to search and dig for seashells. He discovers shells in many shapes and sizes, and even a couple objects that are not shells. He excitedly counts his treasures and upon returning home creates a display. Each shell is labeled, and the final page offers an array of fun facts about shells and shell-dwelling creatures. This book's illustrations are truly gorgeous, done in a highly detailed cut-paper collage. Bright, joyful colors and sand that appears to have a true "sandy" texture also contribute to the visual appeal. The rhyming text in this book is simple, though a couple of rhymes feel a tad forced: "I count other shells--- five, six, seven, eight. My shells are curvy-never straight." The boy's mother provides her son and curious, beachcombing readers with some valuable insight. "This shell is a home," she explains as she holds up a snail. "Let's put it back to live in the sea." Discovering the purpose of shells for small marine animals may inspire some young readers to learn more, as might the beautiful variety of shells the boy displays at the end. VERDICT A delightful purchase, perfect for sharing in the summertime and piquing little ones' curiosity.-Sara White, Seminole County Public Library, Casselberry, FL © Copyright 2015. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
A boy and mother collect seashells and dig in the sand in this rhyming story. Along with counting practice ("Two more shells-- / numbers nine and ten. / When we get home, / Let's count them again"), Ochiltree incorporates information about seashells into the text and at book's end. The bold shapes, colors, and textures in Kreloff's collages will dazzle young beach lovers. (c) Copyright 2016. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
A cute, curly-headed boy and his young mother, both Caucasian, head to the beach for a day of collecting seashells. Over the dune they run, and the treasure hunt ensues, expressed in simple rhyming couplets: "With pail and shovel in my hand, / my toes squish in cool, wet sand." Boy and mother together discover the beauty and variety of shells on a wide, rolling, sandy beach. The boy is entranced by the sound of the sea when he presses a giant whelk to his ear. Counting and natural science are both featured, and the collection the boy displays when he gets home serves to identify 10 shells by their popular names: whelk, limpet, conch, oyster, scallop, cone snail, mussel, moon snail, razor and clam. The straightforward text is considerably enhanced by the beautifully rendered illustrations, which use cut-paper and collage techniques to create bright, attractive beach scenes. Illustrator Kreloff employs photographed textures, torn and cut papers, airbrushing and paint washes to bring to life the magic of the day. The closing spreads are visually exquisite, with long shadows and touches of pink and deep yellow added to convey colors of a classic summer sunset. A charming beach-day book to share with a young child beginning to show interest in the natural world. (Picture book. 3-6) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
