Mother and daughter pack up the car and head for a day of sand and surf in this wisp of a tale. All kinds of fun await them, including a new friend for the girl, a boy who loves exploring and sand castles as much as she does. "We jump, jump, jump/ In the curly-whirly wave./ Cold water doesn't scare us/ 'Cause we're brave, brave, brave," goes Hubbell's (Bouncing Time) text, as Ernst (Stella Louella's Runaway Book) shows the pair leaping into a fingered curl of the friendly-looking, blue-green surf. The various attractions of the setting are catalogued, but the verses occasionally seem constructed to adhere to the rhyme scheme ("Sand in our belly buttons./ Sand in our pants./ We jump in the water/ And dance, dance, dance"), and the straight-on perspective in the illustrations teeters on monotonous. Ages 3-8. (June) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved

Ages 2^-4. A little girl and her mother drive to the beach, where the child meets a new friend. The children dig in the sand, jump in the waves, and eat their lunches. Finally, it's time to go home. The rhyming text bounces jovially along: "We jump, jump, jump / In the curly-whirly wave. Cold water doesn't scare us / Cause we're brave, brave, brave." The energy and simplicity of the words are well matched by Ernst's clear artwork in ink and sun-bleached pastel washes, which offers large-scale depictions of children, sand, water, and sky. --Carolyn Phelan

PreS-Gr 1-Through bouncy rhyming text and soft art, the joys of a day at the beach unfold. A young girl and her mother set out for the shore, remembering to bring a "Flippy-floppy sun hat," cookies and lemonade, and lotion to rub on the child's nose. The girl befriends a little boy, and the two youngsters spend the day making a sand castle and exploring the wonders of the beach, from seaweed to starfish. The simple illustrations in pastel tones seem gently tinged with a golden light. On some pages, the spreads become the background for superimposed small, framed scenes that, like photos, have a stop-time effect. This technique helps to bring the story to life and makes it all the more engaging. The book would work well for group or one-on-one sharing.-Genevieve Ceraldi, New York Public Library (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

A joyous celebration of the sea as seen through the eyes of a small child. Hubbell (Bouncing Time, 2000, etc.) re-creates the splendor of a day spent capering among the waves as a young child embarks upon a trip to the beach with great relish. Sprightly rhymes and a singsong rhythm combine to form a spirited salute to the sea. Hubbell touches upon all the nifty fun a youngster can have at the shore: silly seaweed hair, digging in the sand, and the unexpected pleasure of a new playmate. She even manages to make sand inside a swimsuit sound like a treat. "Sand in our belly buttons. / Sand in our pants. / We jump in the water / And dance, dance, dance." Ernst's pastel illustrations are in complete harmony with the tale. She deftly captures the bewitching quality of carefree beach days that adults so fondly remember and children eagerly anticipate. Inserted within several of the full-bleed spreads are smaller snapshot-styled illustrations that highlight the peaks of the child's day: meeting her new friend, snacking on a beach towel, etc. The simply rendered drawings, gently colored in marine hues, perfectly convey the absolute bliss a day at the shore can invoke. With a lively, toe-tapping pace and sparkling pictures, this spirited romp transports readers to a day of sun and fun. (Picture book. 2-8)

A mother and her daughter enjoy a cheerful day at the beach. The young girl meets a new friend, and together they build sandcastles, decorate themselves with shells and seaweed, and jump in the waves. The rhyming text and simple illustrations rendered in warm colors combine to convey a relaxed, lighthearted day at the seashore. From HORN BOOK Fall 2001, (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.