Beach Day!

by Patricia Lakin, Scott Nash (Illustrator)

In the companion to Snow Day!, Sam, Pam, Will, and Jill decide that it is the perfect day for the beach, so they put on their swimsuits, pack a picnic lunch, and head for the shore.

Genres: Picture Books, Storytime, Summer, Childrens, Animals, Friendship, Fiction

32 pages, Hardcover

First published May 24, 2004

Reviews

[Celia Buell (semi hiatus) · Rating 2 out of 5]

I can't say I enjoyed Beach Day! by Patricia Lakin as much as I had hoped I would. The cover illustrations show four anthropomorphic crocodilian reptiles running toward the beach, but there is almost no beach in the story. Instead, the family gets distracted by a park and then a picnic spot, and then they all decide to take a nap for four hours when they're not remotely close to the beach. When they finally get there, the sun is setting, so they get the genius idea to swim in total darkness. The end. Because obviously night swimming at a hard-to-find beach that is completely abandoned by sundown is a great idea! 🙄

Seriously, what even was that? If they're so hot and trying to get to the beach and cool off, why do they stop multiple times in the heat and stay there, outside, for multiple hours?

Definitely don't need to hang on to this one.

Read my full review on my Goodreads account for children's books.

[Celia Buell · Rating 2 out of 5]

I can't say I enjoyed Beach Day! by Patricia Lakin as much as I had hoped I would. The cover illustrations show four anthropomorphic crocodilian reptiles running toward the beach, but there is almost no beach in the story. Instead, the family gets distracted by a park and then a picnic spot, and then they all decide to take a nap for four hours when they're not remotely close to the beach. When they finally get there, the sun is setting, so they get the genius idea to swim in total darkness. The end. Because obviously night swimming at a hard-to-find beach that is completely abandoned by sundown is a great idea! 🙄

Seriously, what even was that? If they're so hot and trying to get to the beach and cool off, why do they stop multiple times in the heat and stay there, outside, for multiple hours?

Also, the illustrations. Even for cartoon anthropomorphic animals, their faces are too rounded to be sure that they're alligators or whatever. One of them looks more like a bird, at least in the face.

Definitely don't need to hang on to this one.

[Jennifer Rayment · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jake's Review: This book is for little kids not big kids like me.( Mom: Dude, this was your FAVORITE book 2 years ago, so don't get all snooty on me.) I liked the picture they were really funny! It rhymes but it doesn't have too much of a story. Are we done yet, I want to go play video games with Dad. Ok, this book would be really good for babies like Jesse and Mommy.
Rating: 8/10

Mom's Review: Beautiful little book for younger readers. Lots of colorful pictures and some easy rhyming text. This was one of Jake's favorites a couple of years ago. Hopefully Jesse will learn to sit still so that I can read it to him someday. Although I'm thinking maybe Jake and I can act it out for him, he would like that
Rating: 9/10

[Suzanne Lorraine Kunz Williams · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love these four friends. I love how they each bring their own gifts and wisdom to the friendship. I love how they work together. I love how when one plan doesn't work out, they easily transition to another fun plan.

* Talking Points: Have you ever been to the beach? What did you enjoy about it? Where was it? What do you like to bring to the beach and wear to the beach? Tell about a time you had planned for something and something else happened. How did you feel?

** Essential Oil Pairing Tips: If you can't make it to the beach, try diffusing 3 drops doTERRA's Patchouli, 2 drops doTERRA's Wild Orange, and 1 drop doTERRA's Ylang Ylang

[Juliana Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sam, Pam, Will, and Jill are four alligator friends who decide to have a beach day one hot, sunny, sweaty, summer day. Once on their bicycle built for four, the friends become distracted at the park, on a picnic, with a nap, until when they finally find their way to the beach the sun has gone down and everyone has gone home. But that doesn't stop Sam, Pam, Will, and Jill from having a cool swim under the light of the moon.

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

When you're sweaty and hot, what's better than a trip to the beach. Sam, Pam, Will and Jill quickly get their swimsuits, hats, sunblock and sunglasses and take off on a bicycle built for four. But before they can reach the beach, they are distracted by a park, a picnic and a nap time. By the time they make it to the beach, the sun is setting. "And they swam by the light of the moon."

Uses/illustrates directional words, which is often included in standards.

[Molly Cluff (Library!) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A family of alligators gets lost on their way to the beach by taking a lot of detours. By the time they arrive, it's night time. Could work for a beach storytime, though I'm not 100% in love/sure how I would present it. There are lots of names (four, and they're easy/rhyming, but still, I feel like you'd have to introduce them before starting the book or something) and lots of dialogue tags.

[Courtney · Rating 5 out of 5]

My children absolutely adore this book. Reading literature is so important to the development of a child's mind, and I cannot think of thing I would rather do then sit down to read to them in the evenings. Imagination and growth are so vital in those so young.

[Ms. Jeane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read for a Beach theme storytime, it was a little tricky to make it entertaining or funny in a read aloud situation but it was a good story to use lots of different voices.

[Lucy&Molly1000Books]

Summer Reading?

[Mallory · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eh, just okay. I'm sure the kiddos would still enjoy

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

The gators get distracted on their way to the beach. Will they even make it? Par for the course with silly humor and a twist ending.

[Vera Chen]

It's a cute book^^

[Erin Field · Rating 5 out of 5]

Field Guide to Summer Reading 2023 (L)

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

My four-year-old son picked this book out from the library last week.

This was a cute book, as far as it went, which wasn't very far. I had my son stop watching Max and Ruby about a year ago because for every episode, Max will say only one word. My son, who is more clever than that, started acting and speaking like Max. This book recalls one-word Max.

The illustrations would indicate that this book is intended for preschoolers and maybe early elementary students, but the text is clearly for a younger audience. I might have preferred this book if I had read it to my son a year or two ago, but he wouldn't have like the artwork very much then.

[Dave Lester · Rating 4 out of 5]

In 2015, my family took a trip to the northeastern part of the country and stayed (through Air BnB) with a couple in Providence, Rhode Island. They were friends with an illustrator named Scott Nash and let us peruse some children's books that he had illustrated. We thought they looked creative so we ordered one. Long story short: "Beach Day" written by Patricia Lakin with illustrations by Nash. A family of alligators (Sam, Pam, Will and Jill) plan to go to the beach on a day with nothing else going on. The trip becomes a little bit of a detour as they try and find their way there. "Beach Day" is funny and creative. I enjoy the artwork as well with bright and colorful illustrating.

[Rosa Cline · Rating 3 out of 5]

What a great picture book! It's more of a picture book than a story book but that was okay with us as my 3 year old granddaughter giggled at the illustrations of the four gators having fun. A beginning reader could use this book as a good learning tool and wouldn't take long at all for self esteem to grow because most of these words are rhyming and short and easy to read. Very repeatative throughout the story as well. So once they learn from the first few pages they would see it on other pages as well.

[Jenna Renner · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this book was a really good book because it told all the different things a family did on their way to the beach. The family got lost going to the beach and they got there late at night when the sun wasn't out and they made the best of it by swimming under the stars. I think I really enjoyed this book because I love going to the beach and no matter what I always make the best out of my trips to the beach.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The text was very minimal in Beach Day, which would make it a great book for beginning readers, or a great book to read to pre-school kids. My niece and nephew were surprisingly tickled with Beach Day. It could be that they enjoyed the story, or it could be that one of the characters in the story has the same name as their uncle. Whatever the reason, they liked this book!

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun library book selected by Alice about some alligators who are continuously sidetracked on their way to the beach. This is a great book for early readers because there are only a handful of words per page with some excellent sight words in BOLD and ALL CAPS that repeat throughout the story, along with the simple character names.

[Kandice · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's hot outside and Sam, Pam, Will, and Jill decide to head to the beach. They get sidetracked along the way, but make the most of their time when they finally arrive at the beach.

My son adores this story. He's an early reader for his age and can read this book on his own. Simple, yet fun read for all (except my husband who can't wait to return this "terrible" book to the library). :-)

[Mrs. Brandt]

It's a perfect day for the beach, but the alligators have a little trouble actually getting there. Some first graders will be able to read the whole book independently; others can join in by reading those words that are written in giant letters.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This simple silly story shows four friends who head to the beach on a hot day. Along the trip, they get distracted and play at a playground instead. Will they find the beach eventually? When they do, will it still be fun?

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simple text describes 4 alligators' (crocodiles'?) trip to the beach. It's a hot day, so they decide to go to the beach. They get sidetracked and lost along the way. When they finally make it there, it's night. So they swim by the light of the moon.

Good for toddler storytimes.

[Vicki · Rating 4 out of 5]

This picture book is actually would be a great book for someone learning to read simple text and very large font. I used it for "Beach Day" at the library during Winter Break and I skipped some of the simple, repetitive text.

I love the ending. The illustrations are very colorful and cute.

[Aspasia · Rating 5 out of 5]

An alligator family decides to go to the beach but gets sidetracked along the way.

[Crystal · Rating 3 out of 5]

A great book for story time. Big bold illustrations with primary colors, and a great rhyme.

[Nick Cherry · Rating 1 out of 5]

Friendship is tied to this book, so it would be a great story to share with students. Also if you are talking about the beach.

[Mckinley · Rating 3 out of 5]

The destination shouldn't interferr with enjoyment.

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

They don't actually go to the beach until the end (it's a journey story).