by the GROGgers
The GROG Blog team is taking the summer off - we'll return in late August. But before we pack our towels and sunscreen, we've got a few suggestions for books to read at the beach. Or in the car. Or sitting next to the sandy play area at the local park. In no particular order:
Sue Heavenrich's got her beach tote packed with these fun reads!
Build a Sandcastle, by Eileen Rajala Meyer; illus. by Manica Musil (Reycraft, 2025)
Written in rhyme, it begins: Build a castle in the sand – ask a friend to lend a hand. Page by page we watch as two friends determine the ideal construction site, prepare a foundation, gather materials, and build. Each spread includes Five-Star Tips – short sidebars full of useful info about everything from where to find the best castle-building sand to scrounging the shore for suitable decorations.
Written in rhyme, it begins: Build a castle in the sand – ask a friend to lend a hand. Page by page we watch as two friends determine the ideal construction site, prepare a foundation, gather materials, and build. Each spread includes Five-Star Tips – short sidebars full of useful info about everything from where to find the best castle-building sand to scrounging the shore for suitable decorations.
How to Code a Sandcastle, by Josh Funk; illus. by Sara Palacios (Viking, 2018)
It is the last day of summer vacation, and Pearl has been trying to build sandcastles all summer. But things keep happening to them. Today, though, she’s got the perfect plan and the perfect building partner – her trusty, rust-proof robot buddy, Pascal. All she has to do is tell Pascal what to do, and how to do it. There’s just one problem… when Pearl tells Pascal to build a sandcastle, he doesn’t know what to do. The solution? Give Pascal more specific instructions.
It is the last day of summer vacation, and Pearl has been trying to build sandcastles all summer. But things keep happening to them. Today, though, she’s got the perfect plan and the perfect building partner – her trusty, rust-proof robot buddy, Pascal. All she has to do is tell Pascal what to do, and how to do it. There’s just one problem… when Pearl tells Pascal to build a sandcastle, he doesn’t know what to do. The solution? Give Pascal more specific instructions.
Look What I Found at the Beach, by Moira Butterfield; illus by Jesus Verona (Nosy Crow, 2022)
This is the perfect book to tuck in your beach tote. Part field guide and part treasure hunt, we follow three friends as they comb the beach in search of shells, stones, and sea life. Some spreads invite you to look for specific things: a sea star, tiny fish, some shrimp. Other spreads explain how to identify things, such as different kinds of crabs you might find, or types of shells. And there are scavenger-hunt lists that encourage kids to take a closer look at the illustrations.
Seashells: More Than A Home, by Melissa Stewart; illus. by Sarah S. Brannen (Charlesbridge, 2019)
Every day, seashells wash up on beaches all over Earth, like treasures from a secret world beneath the waves. They come in all sizes, colors, and shapes because they have so many different jobs to do. Some shells allow their mollusk inhabitant to dive deeper into the water or tunnel into the seabed to hide from a predator. Some blend in with their background, while others light up.
Kathy Halsey's ready for a slight breeze, some mild surf, and the Beach Boys at the ready. Here's my stack of summer fun!
Hot Dog, by Caldecott winner Doug Salati (Knopf Book for Young Readers, 2022)
Hot Dog and his lady are tired of hot times and summer in the city. What to do? It's all TOO Much for Hot Dog. They escape via taxi to an island "wild, long, and low as Hot Dog himself." Readers can vicariously join this now frolicing dachshund and kick the summer heat metaphorically. The drawings are so joyous, I can imagine myself, wagging my tail in the wind as my long ears fly free. Fun for all. Four paws up for Scrappy Doo and me.
Maya's Treasure by Laurie Smollett Kutscera (Peter Pauper Press, 2021)
Maya and he sister Alita collect shells every morning and create jewelry from them, a tradition their grandmother taught them. Alita sifts through shells, discarding the broken ones, but Grandma's words echo in Maya heart. Each shell is unique and and has its own magic. Maya takes Alita's rejected shells and experiments. How will she make them valuable?
At the moment she's ready to pitch them, she makes a discovery. She repurposes them into wind chimes. Still Alita thinks no one will buy them. Maya hangs the chimes from a branch by her window and dreams of Grandma. Th wildly clanging chimes alert her to the incoming storm and the girls waken the townspeople. Now the sturdy, strong chimes peal throughout the village, a gift to all. This lyrical thoughtful SEL picture book champions upcycling, recycling, and the power of creativity.
Kathy Halsey's last gift to share is the unique way haiku and photography take seemingly ordinary moments and turn them into art for others to enjoy. Be in the moment this summer. Find creativity.
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God's Little Oceanographer, by Tina Cho; illus. by Marta Álvarez Miguéns (PRH/Waterbrook, 2025)
Follow diverse children as they dive the depths of the sea and learn ocean facts from each zone and accompanying Bible verses that show God's love for them. Activity pages can be printed here.
