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.
Karen Lynn Williams is the author of over a dozen books for children, including the beloved titles
Galimoto and recent award-winners such as
Four Feet, Two Sandals and
Circles of Hope. Her books often feature children in developing countries, and she has lived and worked in both Africa and Haiti. She lives in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Floyd Cooper (1956–2021) illustrated over 110 books for children, including
Unspeakable: The Tulsa Race Massacre by Carole Boston Weatherford, for which he was awarded a Caldecott Honor, the Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award, and a Sibert Honor. He was also the recipient of the CorettaScott King Award for
The Blacker the Berry; three Coretta Scott King Honors for
I Have Heard of a Land,
Meet Danitra Brown, and
Brown Honey in Broomwheat Tea; 10 ALA Notables; and an NAACP Image Award, among other honors. Visit floydcooper.com.
★ "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." —
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