A Beach Tail

by Karen Lynn Williams, Floyd Cooper (Illustrator)

Overview

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.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781635925531
Publisher:	Astra Publishing House
Publication date:	03/01/2022
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	9.00(w) x 12.00(h) x 0.16(d)
Lexile:	AD470L (what's this?)
Age Range:	4 - 7 Years

About the Author

Karen Lynn Williams is the author of over a dozen books for children, including GALIMOTO, a Reading Rainbow Featured Book and one of the New York Times Top Ten Books of the Year. She was a Peace Corps volunteer in Malawi, Africa, Karen also lived and worked in Haiti, the setting for her highly acclaimed titles CIRCLES OF HOPE and TAP-TAP.

Floyd Cooper received a Coretta Scott King Award for his illustrations in THE BLACKER THE BERRY and a Coretta Scott King Honor for BROWN HONEY IN BROOMWHEAT TEA and I HAVE HEARD OF A LAND. Born and raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Floyd received a degree in fine arts from the University of Oklahoma and, after graduating, worked as an artist for a major greeting card company. Illustrator site: floydcooper.com

Editorial Reviews

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. (Feb.)

Publishers Weekly

While Greg and his dad enjoy a beach day, Dad sets two rules: "Don't go in the water / and don't leave Sandy," a lion Greg has drawn in the sand. As the little boy continues drawing the lion's tail, he discovers myriad items along the shore. Williams's rhythmic, onomatopoeic Swish-swoosh of the waves and the clear, descriptive text transport readers into Greg's experiences, which range from spotting a "gooey purple jellyfish" to watching a "tiny ghost crab / scurry sideways into his dark, round hole." Cooper's mastery with pastels results in a grainy, sun-washed effect that conjures a hot seaside day. Most stunning are the endearing, intimate close-ups of Greg immersed in artistic play. Children will relate to his adventure, which pivots on the moment he realizes he has lost sight of his dad. But a winning combination of good memory and self-reliance lead to a most satisfactory ending. Scoop up this tale for its strength as a unique beach story and for its warm portrayal of an African-American son and father enjoying the outdoors. (Picture book. 3-6)

Kirkus Reviews

★ "Scoop up this tale for its strength as a unique beach story and for its warm portrayal of an African-American son and father enjoying the outdoors." — Kirkus Reviews, starred review

★"A charming tale of creativity and discovery." — School Library Journal, starred review

"A lovely collaboration suited for every collection." — Booklist

From the Publisher

PreS-Gr 2—A charming tale of creativity and discovery. When Gregory draws a lion in the sand, his father suggests that it needs a tail and a name. As the child begins making a tail with a stick, Dad reminds him, "Don't go into the water, and don't leave Sandy." Although Gregory does not go into the water, his interpretation of not leaving Sandy is highly suspect. As he continues to draw the tail, it leads him a long way down the beach. Gregory winds it around a purple jellyfish, a sandcastle, a horseshoe crab, and more, until he reaches a jetty. He turns around and has lost sight of Dad, but fortunately is clever enough to follow the tail back past his landmarks, until he finds part of Sandy, whose body has been washed away. Gregory is happy and relieved to see his father sitting under the blue umbrella on the dolphin towel. The pastel illustrations use a soft, muted palette and have a grainy, beachlike feel to them. Cooper does an outstanding job of using perspective to underscore the immensity of the beach and sea. Gregory's facial expressions are full of wonder and curiosity as he finds small discoveries during his adventure. A wonderful summer tale to share one-on-one or with a group.—Anne Beier, Hendrick Hudson Free Library, Montrose, NY

School Library Journal

On an outing to the beach with his dad, Greg uses a stick to draw a lion in the sand. When Dad observes that the lion needs a tail, a creative journey begins. Accompanied by sound effects of the beach, Greg, with his stick dragging in the sand, wanders down the beach. Dion Graham’s narration depicts his exploratory walk along the waterline. With each whooshing sound of the waves, Graham invites listeners to anticipate the next discovery—a horseshoe crab, a gooey jellyfish, and a sand castle. Graham’s calmness prevails as Greg travels far down the beach and has to use his wits and his wave-swept line to return to Dad. A.R. © AudioFile 2011, Portland, Maine

AUGUST 2011 - AudioFile