The Seashore Book

by Charlotte Zolotow, Wendell Minor (Illustrator)

"A young boy, who has never seen the sea, asks his mother to describe it. From there, Zolotow carefully chooses her words to create a poem full of the colors, sounds, and sights of a day at the beach. Minor's softly detailed renderings reinforce the gentle mood." 'SLJ. "[Zolotow's] words have a special lilt that lingers long after the book is closed." 'NYT. Notable 1992 Children's Trade Books in Social Studies (NCSS/CBC)
Outstanding Science Trade Books for Children 1992 (NSTA/CBC)
A Reading Rainbow Selection

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Nature, Summer, Animals, Fiction, 1st Grade

30 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1992

About the author

Charlotte Zolotow was a distinguished American writer, editor, and publisher who made a lasting mark on children's literature. Over her career, she authored around 70 picture book texts and edited works by prominent writers including Paul Zindel, Robert Lipsyte, and Francesca Lia Block. Born in Norfolk, Virginia, she studied writing at the University of Wisconsin Madison and later joined Harper & Bros in New York, where she worked her way up from secretary to publisher. Her own books were published by over 20 houses, and she became known for her poetic and emotionally insightful texts. Zolotow’s most celebrated works include When the Wind Stops, William’s Doll, and River Winding. Her story "Enemies" was featured in The Big Book for Peace alongside other notable authors. She lived for many years in Hastings-on-Hudson, New York. Her legacy endures not only through her own writing but also through the Charlotte Zolotow Award, established in 1998 to honor outstanding picture book texts. Her contributions helped shape modern children's literature with sensitivity, elegance, and enduring relevance.

Reviews

[Peace · Rating 3 out of 5]

توی خونه‌تکونی عید، رسیدم به کلی کتاب علمی که برای زمان بچگیم بوده و هیچ‌وقت نخوندمشون (اینجانب از بچگی کتاب خریدن رو بیشتر از کتاب خوندن دوست داشتم) و از اونجایی که میخوام اهداشون کنن به کتابخونه، ذهن کمال‌گرام اجازه نداد که نخونمشون. خلاصه که تا یه مدت قراره بخونمشون و اینجا ثبت کنم.
کتاب اول: از من بپرس چرا: ساحل (کتاب اصلی رو توی گودریدز پیدا نکردم)
تصویرهای کتاب رو دوست داشتم ولی کتاب پر بود از پرنده‌های آمریکایی که من نه اسمشون رو شنیده بودم نه حتی تصویرشون رو تاحالا دیده بودم، برای همین خیلی ارتباط برقرار نکردم
کتاب بعدی که از این مجموعه دارم هم درباره پرندگان هست و احتمالا باز هم قرار این حس رو بگیرم، ولی خب در کل تجربه جالبیه. پیش بریم ببینیم چی میشه

[Abigail · Rating 4 out of 5]

Living in the mountains, and never having seen the sea, the young boy in this evocative picture-book asks his mother about the shore, and she spins him a poetic tale of what he would do during a day and evening at the beach. From playing in the sand to taking a nap under the sun, the boy experiences the tranquil joy of the seashore through his mother's words...

Originally published in 1992, and just reissued in this 25th Anniversary Edition this year (2017), The Seashore Book offers a beautiful examination, not just of the pleasures of a day at the shore, but also of the power of words and the imagination to transport us to far-off places. I found Charlotte Zolotow's narrative soothing, and imagine that this would make an excellent bedtime selection. The artwork by Wendell Minor, which in this anniversary edition includes a new cover, is absolutely lovely, capturing the pale beauty of the shore to perfection. I'm so glad that Minor managed to get this new edition released, so that another generation of children can experiences the pleasures of The Seashore Book. Recommended to anyone looking for engaging children's books about the beach, the sea, and/or the power of the imagination.

[Alex Baugh · Rating 4 out of 5]

How do you describe the seashore to a person has never been there? Make it a sensory experience, but using descriptive language instead of actual sensory experience. When a young boy asks his mother what the seashore is like, she begins with the break of day and the changing colors of sky and water as the sun come up. At the beach, there are treasures for him to explore - shells, seaside creatures, a gulls lost feather. The cold ocean “makes you skin feel like peppermint” and the noonday sun tires you out. In the afternoon, there is an airplane to run after, twirling in the sand, and the walk home. After a wonderful, busy day, it impossible to stay awake to even notice the on/off beam of the lighthouse. Zolotow’s lyrical descriptions perfectly reflect the sights and sounds of a day at the beach, transporting mother and son so vividly that it almost feels as though they had been there. Added to this imaginary experience are Minor’s soft gouache and watercolor illustrations in a palette of blues and yellows that will leave the reader with the sensation of hot sun and sand countered with the coolness of the ocean’s water. This reissue is a welcomed delight.

[Cindy Mitchell *Kiss the Book* · Rating 3 out of 5]

Zolotow, Charlotte. The Seashore Book, PICTURE BOOK. Charlesbridge, 2017. $16.99.

A mother explains a day at the seashore to her son who has never been there before. They explore the sand and waves together, look for birds and shellfish, eat lunch on a big rock, and walk home along the pier. The little boy feels like he has been to the beach and says he can now visit it with his mother in his mind any time he would like.

The descriptions of the beach and the illustrations do very well at describing what a day at the beach is like. It’s very realistic and mostly engaging book, but it is very long. I think a lot of young readers would find it challenging to hang in there completely for this book.

EL- OPTIONAL. Reviewed by Shay, School Librarian
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2017...

[Katherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

A little boy who has never been to the seashore asks his mother what it's like. Her descriptions of their pretend day at the shore are so evocative, with wonderful phrases and sentences like:

"swishswashing sound of the waves"

"small brown sand crabs squabbling at our toes"

"Outside the lighthouse is flashing
golden gleam on,
golden gleam gone."

Beautiful illustrations. Lovely, lovely book!

[Dolly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a wonderful tale about an imaginary trip to the seashore. A boy and his mother who live in the mountains talk about a wonderful day at the ocean, with such vivid imagery and sensory detail that it's as if they were truly there. The illustrations are magnificent and the story is soothing, perfect for bedtime.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Would love to close my eyes and have this book read to me! Mom rates it 4 stars, Jake and Ellie 3 stars.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book for sensory details and visualizing.

[sincerely · Rating 5 out of 5]

Completely beautiful! A mother guides her son, who has never seen the ocean, through imagining the beauty a day spent at the seashore.

[Janet Squires · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Seashore Book by Charlotte Zolotow with illustrations by Wendell Minor has been redesigned for its 25th Anniversary and the results are splendid in this celebration of a children’s classic.

This gentle story begins with a young boy’s question. “What is the seashore like?” In response, his mother suggests they pretend to leave their mountain home and make a visit. Beginning in the early morning, as the misty sky grades from gray to pale purple to hazy blue, we follow mother and son as they build sand castles, delight in finding a white gull’s feather, sleep to the rising and falling song of waves, watch sand crabs squaggling at their toes, and finally make their way home as a glowing orange sun dips into the sea.

Zolotow creates a beautiful word picture that leads the child, and in turn the reader, through an extraordinary experience that delights the senses with lyrical language – “cold water makes your skin feel like peppermint.”; “The swish-swashing sound of [waves]”; “the lighthouse is flashing golden gleam on, golden gleam gone.”

Minor’s richly colored artwork is spare and precise, drawing attention to the heart of the text.

[Luisa Knight · Rating 3 out of 5]

Vivid descriptions and delightful pictures bring the seashore to life. I almost felt like I was there ... almost.

Ages: 4 - 8

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[Erin Buhr · Rating 4 out of 5]

Imagine someone had never see the sea. Could you describe it? Make them feel like they were spending the day in the warm sand? Charlotte Zolotow does just that in her classic beach day book. A boy who has always lived in the mountains asks his mom to describe "what is the seashore like?" Together they imagine a day at the beach from the cool sunrise to sand castles and crabs to an exhausted happy walk home. Redesigned for its 25th anniversary, a whole new generation of children can now get lost in the vivid language, gentle action, and watery illustrations that grace the pages of this delightful book.

[Lana Clifton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Have you ever met a child who has never been to the beach? Help them to imagine what sights and sounds one would encounter through the assuring voice of a mother. Her words are comforting, and will transport you to a place you will long to visit. Over sand dunes and under waves, she gives descriptive vocabulary to paint this imaginary adventure. The pictures accurately illustrate both living and non-living participants of the oceanic habitat- even that which is often overlooked. If you close your eyes while reading this story, you can put yourself there.

[Joy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was about a young boy who has never been to the beach. His mother tells him about the day that they would spend if they were to go there. He loves imagining it in his mind and will always go there when he closes his eyes.

It had a cute story and great descriptions of what the beach and ocean are like. The illustrations were beautiful and appropriate for the word descriptions. I really enjoyed it.

I would read this to my class when we are learning about animals that live at the beach.

[Talea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful book with beautiful illustrations depicting the beach. As a mother has her son imagine with her the sounds and sights of the seaside she introduces him to gulls, crabs, shells, sea grass and more. It made both my daughter and I miss the beach.

[Julie Graham 47150 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a beautiful book about the seashore, both in text and illustration. I read it during our study of the ocean. My students who had been to the beach were very excited to share their own experiences as I read the book and many of my students who had never been still enjoy pouring over the book to look at the watercolor paintings.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

So beautiful! This was suggested by our Harcourt social studies curriculum for studying different regions, and I think it's perfect for kids who might never have been to the seashore."The cold water makes your skin feel like peppermint" is my favorite line. Also good for discussing second person perspective. But did the family at the seashore HAVE to be blonde and white?

[Cindi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book because it is the middle of the winter and it transported me to a summer day along Lake Michigan (well, all except for the crabs!) About a boy who has never been to the seashore imagining himself there as his mother describes it. Great artwork!

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the imagery and figurative language in this book about a boy who's never been to the sea and asks his mother to tell him about it. There are great examples of metaphor and similes that are easy to talk about with your children.

[Alice · Rating 3 out of 5]

The pictures are wonderful, the story, is okay, but didn't thrill me. The concept was cool, about imagining being on the beach, but it seemed a little far fetched! It gets the dreaded "fine" from me!

[Abril · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really liked how the author had beautiful imagery. The paragraphs were just to long for a student in kinder- 2nd grade to really read. Teacher reading is advised.


Lexile: AD840L
AR Level: 0.5 pts.

[Raven Howell · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful story of a child asking his mother what it's like by the seashore. By the time we're told, we've experienced the sight, sounds, scents and wonders of a full day at the beach, leaving the reader content and peaceful. Wendell Minor's illustrations are fabulous!

[Trista · Rating 3 out of 5]

A peaceful book about a boy who lives in the mountains and his mom describes to him what a day at the beach would be like. Very nice illustrations.

[SCES · Rating 4 out of 5]

Makes you feel like you are at the beach! Great descriptions of the beach with many forms of figurative language used. Comp. strategy: VISUALIZING.
-Susan

[Ryan · Rating 3 out of 5]

memoir book study - family and beach themes

[Tessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

If Zolotow has written a bad book, I certainly haven't read it yet. Loved this one - made me SO miss the ocean in my current home of land-locked Utah!

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beautiful imagery and detail. You really feel like you're relaxing at the seashore. A little long for keeping the attention of kindergartners.

[Molly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This made me want to move to the coast! The illustrations are beautiful and really capture the feel of the seashore.

[Janae · Rating 4 out of 5]

I doubt this would rank high with 'W', but the language and description were beautiful. A good book for teaching imagery.

[Carol Maskus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gorgeous illustrations and great concept!