Check It Out: Hit the beach virtually with these fun titles – The Columbian

Posted On: August 30, 2020

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Doesn’t a day or two at the beach sound pretty darn great? When I go to the beach, I enjoy sitting on a deck chair and watching the waves. The last time I went I was surprised by the number of people kiteboarding. They were amazing to watch, but I can tell you with complete certainty that I have zero interest in trying it. I like my feet firmly planted in the sand, thank you very much.

Going to the beach isn’t as easy as it used to be due to the pandemic, but I think you can simulate a beachlike atmosphere at home so that you can celebrate National Beach Day (which is today, by the way). The reading recommendations are very kid-oriented this time around, which means you can share some fun titles with your little ones and bring a bit of joy to your inner child, too. You’ll also notice that the books I’ve chosen have a decidedly animal theme; that’s because sea creatures are cool, and who doesn’t want to read about a smug seagull or a magnificent squid? On a personal note, I am fascinated by crabs, especially the tiny ones that appear on the beach. Yet I am completely freaked out by spiders, and let’s face it, spiders and crabs have lots of legs. Multiple legs are creepy. But crab legs are OK. Go figure.

Spread a beach blanket on the lawn, fill a pail with some dirt and pretend that the sprinklers are gentle ocean waves rolling across the grass. And have fun learning about hermit crabs — they’re beachy keen!

• “Bathtime Buddies: 20 Crocheted Animals from the Sea” by Megan Kreiner.

Can a bathtub turn into the ocean? If you have crocheted bath-time sea creatures, the answer is yes! Fill the mini-ocean with jellyfish, lobsters, narwhals — even a mermaid or two — and let your bathing beauties splash with a bounty of sea life!

• “Don’t Worry, Little Crab” written and illustrated by Chris Haughton.

I still can’t explain my affinity for crabs (all those legs!), but there you have it. This sweet picture book tells the story of Little Crab and Very Big Crab. Little Crab is excited to leave his tide pool and visit the ocean with Very Big Crab until they actually get there. The ocean is a mighty big place, he discovers, and kind of scary, but a gentle helping hand from Very Big Crab makes everything better.

• “Hermit Crabs” by Ellen Lawrence.

Learn about hermit crabs and why they’re so hermity. It’s easy to do when you carry your house around with you all the time.

• “How to Draw Incredible Sharks and Other Ocean Giants” by Fiona Gowen.

Scary-looking as they are, humans are fascinated with sharks. And I haven’t met a kid yet who doesn’t want to look at pictures of sharks. Go one better by encouraging your kiddos to draw dozens of deep-sea denizens including sharky sharks, and before you know it you’ll have your very own version of Shark Week.

• “I See Sea Food: Sea Creatures that Look Like Food” by Jenna Grodzicki.

Did you know there’s such a thing as an Australian pineapplefish or an egg yolk jellyfish? This is why I love kids’ books – I’m always learning something new. Feast your eyes on this entertaining nonfiction book for children (but don’t worry if you lose your appetite looking at the pizza crust sea slug — ick.)

• “Smug Seagull” written and illustrated by Maddie Frost.

A seagull with an ego (“Nobody swipes snacks like me!” he boasts) meets his match when a crafty crab enters the scene. Who’s smug now?

• “Squid Kid, the Magnificent” written by Lynne Berry, illustrated by Luke LaMarca.

Squid kid thinks he’s, well, magnificent, but his squid sister doesn’t agree. Is it magic or just normal behavior he’s demonstrating? It’s a bit of an inky story.

Jan Johnston is the collection development coordinator for the Fort Vancouver Regional Libraries. Email her at readingforfun@fvrl.org.