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One Small Place by the Sea
For one afternoon, a child visitor observes the cycle of change within a tidepool, a small place at the edge of the sea that is home to many plants and animals.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published March 1, 2004
7 people want to read
About the author
Barbara Brenner
108 books12 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.
Barbara Brenner is a respected, award-winning author, specializing in works of both juvenile fiction and nonfiction educational material that deals with animals, nature, and ecology. Her interests range from the natural world (i.e. Thinking about Ants) to American history (e.g. Wagon Wheels), all of which are reflected in the wide scope of her work. Brenner discussed with Contemporary Authors Online her influences and how they have affected her literary career, concluding that “all the circumstances of my life conspired to make me a writer--just lucky, I guess.”
Brenner was born Barbara Lawrence on June 26, 1925, in Brooklyn, New York, to Robert Lawrence (a real estate broker) and Marguerite (Furboter) Johnes. Tragically, her mother died when Brenner was just a year old, and, according to Brenner, this has been a large influence on her career, with Contemporary Authors Online showing how this has added a certain level of “sensitivity” to her work. She also defines Brooklyn as a place which gave much “color” to her work, and where her father’s ambitions for her helped to develop Brenner’s intellectual curiosity.
Brenner attended Seton Hall College (now University) and Rutgers University from 1942-46, whilst also working as a copy editor at Prudential Insurance Co. from 1942 – 46. Her freelance work as an artist’s agent prepared her for a literary life, as after the birth of her two children she began work on her first book Somebody’s Slippers, Somebody’s Shoes, published in 1957. She followed this book with an educational picture book entitled Barto Takes the Subway, designed to improve reading comprehension and sight vocabulary.
Her artistic development continued when she began to collaborate with her husband, illustrator Fred Brenner, on The Flying Patchwork Quilt. Her next book, On the Frontier with Mr. Audubon, was selected by School Library Journal as “The Best of the Best” among children’s books published over 26 seasons. In a review of On the Frontier with Mr. Audubon, Paul Showers wrote in the New York Times Book Review that “Brenner again demonstrates her gift for invention and respect for facts . . . [it is] written in the polite but colloquial language of the frontier sketching in Audubon’s biographical background and recording events of the journey as they might have been observed by a serious, very perceptive 13- year-old.” One of her best-selling titles was Wagon Wheels (published in 1978), which deals with the trials and tribulations of a close-knit African American family. This true to life story is “exciting and realistic” according to Gisela Jernigan (writing in the children literature journal Booklist), and was named a 1978 American Library Association Notable Book.
Throughout the ‘80s and ‘90s Brenner continued to publish, many of her works being influenced by the careers and interests of her sons. Speaking to Contemporary Authors Online Brenner explains that as their sons are both grown, and their respective careers as a “biologist . . . and musician” have both had an influence on her writing (i.e. Dinosaurium 1993). In 1986, Brenner was honored with the Pennsylvania School Librarians’ Association’s Outstanding Pennsylvania Author Award. Brenner’s most celebrated book is a collection entitled Voices: Poetry and Art from around the World, for which she was chief editor. This book received an ALA Notable Book for Children mention and an ALA Best Book for Young Adults award. According to the Horn Book Guide from Spring 2001, “more than three hundred and fifty poems from six continents evoke the specific and the universal” with contributions from both “celebrated and unknown poets, Nobel prize winners, and children” allowing the book to demonstrate Brenner’s skill in celebrating “place” and the “shared feelings” of the people about whom the book is written.
Barbara Brenner is a respected, award-winning author, specializing in works of both juvenile fiction and nonfiction educational material that deals with animals, nature, and ecology. Her interests range from the natural world (i.e. Thinking about Ants) to American history (e.g. Wagon Wheels), all of which are reflected in the wide scope of her work. Brenner discussed with Contemporary Authors Online her influences and how they have affected her literary career, concluding that “all the circumstances of my life conspired to make me a writer--just lucky, I guess.”
Brenner was born Barbara Lawrence on June 26, 1925, in Brooklyn, New York, to Robert Lawrence (a real estate broker) and Marguerite (Furboter) Johnes. Tragically, her mother died when Brenner was just a year old, and, according to Brenner, this has been a large influence on her career, with Contemporary Authors Online showing how this has added a certain level of “sensitivity” to her work. She also defines Brooklyn as a place which gave much “color” to her work, and where her father’s ambitions for her helped to develop Brenner’s intellectual curiosity.
Brenner attended Seton Hall College (now University) and Rutgers University from 1942-46, whilst also working as a copy editor at Prudential Insurance Co. from 1942 – 46. Her freelance work as an artist’s agent prepared her for a literary life, as after the birth of her two children she began work on her first book Somebody’s Slippers, Somebody’s Shoes, published in 1957. She followed this book with an educational picture book entitled Barto Takes the Subway, designed to improve reading comprehension and sight vocabulary.
Her artistic development continued when she began to collaborate with her husband, illustrator Fred Brenner, on The Flying Patchwork Quilt. Her next book, On the Frontier with Mr. Audubon, was selected by School Library Journal as “The Best of the Best” among children’s books published over 26 seasons. In a review of On the Frontier with Mr. Audubon, Paul Showers wrote in the New York Times Book Review that “Brenner again demonstrates her gift for invention and respect for facts . . . [it is] written in the polite but colloquial language of the frontier sketching in Audubon’s biographical background and recording events of the journey as they might have been observed by a serious, very perceptive 13- year-old.” One of her best-selling titles was Wagon Wheels (published in 1978), which deals with the trials and tribulations of a close-knit African American family. This true to life story is “exciting and realistic” according to Gisela Jernigan (writing in the children literature journal Booklist), and was named a 1978 American Library Association Notable Book.
Throughout the ‘80s and ‘90s Brenner continued to publish, many of her works being influenced by the careers and interests of her sons. Speaking to Contemporary Authors Online Brenner explains that as their sons are both grown, and their respective careers as a “biologist . . . and musician” have both had an influence on her writing (i.e. Dinosaurium 1993). In 1986, Brenner was honored with the Pennsylvania School Librarians’ Association’s Outstanding Pennsylvania Author Award. Brenner’s most celebrated book is a collection entitled Voices: Poetry and Art from around the World, for which she was chief editor. This book received an ALA Notable Book for Children mention and an ALA Best Book for Young Adults award. According to the Horn Book Guide from Spring 2001, “more than three hundred and fifty poems from six continents evoke the specific and the universal” with contributions from both “celebrated and unknown poets, Nobel prize winners, and children” allowing the book to demonstrate Brenner’s skill in celebrating “place” and the “shared feelings” of the people about whom the book is written.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
August 20, 2008
We read this as part of our study on tide pools. It does an excellent job explaining what creates a tide pool and what types of animals and plants live there and how they eat and behave. The illustrations are very well done.
It's not quite a stand alone book, but used in conjunction with one or two others you've have a pretty thorough understanding of tide pools.
Our favorite part showed what happened when the water came back in. The illustrations showed all the animals opening up and gathering food, which was a unique perspective that you don't normally find in such books.
It's not quite a stand alone book, but used in conjunction with one or two others you've have a pretty thorough understanding of tide pools.
Our favorite part showed what happened when the water came back in. The illustrations showed all the animals opening up and gathering food, which was a unique perspective that you don't normally find in such books.
March 26, 2025
Terrific. What a wonderful book this is. This would be an excellent book to read with your child before their first visit to the beach. It describes a tidal pool at the edge of the sea.
It first describes each individual animal and plant in the tidal pool. And then it discusses what each of those creatures does as the tide comes in. And the same as the tide goes out. Then explains that all title pools don't contain precisely the same combination of plants and animals, but that they all are created by the tide.
It's very clear, very straightforward. I really love this book.
I asked for this book after I read"One Small Place in a Tree" by the same author, which I also highly recommend.
Age: 4 - 8 years
Grade: Preschool to Grade 3
Schimelpfenig Library
It first describes each individual animal and plant in the tidal pool. And then it discusses what each of those creatures does as the tide comes in. And the same as the tide goes out. Then explains that all title pools don't contain precisely the same combination of plants and animals, but that they all are created by the tide.
It's very clear, very straightforward. I really love this book.
I asked for this book after I read"One Small Place in a Tree" by the same author, which I also highly recommend.
Age: 4 - 8 years
Grade: Preschool to Grade 3
Schimelpfenig Library
February 28, 2019
I need more tide pools in my life.
August 7, 2019
Such a great book. Out of all the books we’ve read on this for homeschool (Pre-K/K), this one really brought it to life for the girls.
August 3, 2013
A girl watches a tide pool through the course of high tide and low tide. The animals rest until the tide comes in, then actively feed, and once again become passive, mussels closing up, the hermit crab remaining inside its shell, waiting for high tide again. The book highlights the different plants and animals with information that instructs without being too lengthy of technical. Overall, I consider it the best picture book I have read about tide pools.
August 19, 2012
This book offers a fascinating look at a tide pool. The creatures are described and the fact that they often eat one another is not sugar coated. I also like that the book explains how one change to the tide pool could create an entirely different ecosystem. The illustrations are colorful and nicely detailed. We really enjoyed reading this book together.
December 10, 2014
THE PICTURES ARE AWESOME! LOVE THEM! 4 Stars the details and story so boring. ! When I opened the book I was so excited because the pictures were so great...then zzzz! I was just bored couldn't wait for the story to end! But the pictures..wow...great!!
September 4, 2009
Mommy says: Cana really liked this tale of life in a tide pool. Illustrated with detail.
July 3, 2012
Very clear explanation of tide pools. Great supplement for a content-related lesson on tide pools.
March 24, 2016
very good for explaining about tide pools and what lives in them and the sea.
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May 7, 2018Lyrical Prose - Informational
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews