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Three by the sea
Three friends relax after their picnic lunch by each telling his or her best story.
48 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1981
About the author
Edward Marshall
19 books11 followersJames Edward Marshall (October 10, 1942 – October 13, 1992), who also wrote as Edward Marshall, was a children's author and illustrator.
His father worked on the railroad, was a band member in the 1930s, and his mother sang in the local church choir. His family later moved to Beaumont, Texas. Marshall said: "Beaumont is deep south and swampy and I hated it. I knew I would die if I stayed there so I diligently studied the viola, and eventually won a scholarship to the New England Conservatory in Boston."[1] He entered the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, Massachusetts, but injured his hand, ending his music career. He returned to Texas, where he attended San Antonio College, and later transferred to Southern Connecticut State University where he received degrees in French and history.
It is said that he discovered his vocation on a 1971 summer afternoon, lying on a hammock drawing. His mother was watching Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf, and the main characters, George and Martha, ultimately became characters in one of his children's books. Marshall continued as a children's author until his untimely death in 1992 of a brain tumor. In 1998, George and Martha became the basis of an eponymous animated children's television show.
In addition to George and Martha, the lovable hippopotami, James Marshall created dozens of other uniquely appealing characters. He is well-known for his Fox series (which he wrote as "Edward Marshall"), as well as the Miss Nelson books, the Stupids, the Cut-ups, and many more. James Marshall had the uncanny ability to elicit wild delight from readers with relatively little text and simple drawings. With only two minute dots for eyes, his illustrated characters are able to express a wide range of emotion, and produce howls of laughter from both children and adults.
His father worked on the railroad, was a band member in the 1930s, and his mother sang in the local church choir. His family later moved to Beaumont, Texas. Marshall said: "Beaumont is deep south and swampy and I hated it. I knew I would die if I stayed there so I diligently studied the viola, and eventually won a scholarship to the New England Conservatory in Boston."[1] He entered the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, Massachusetts, but injured his hand, ending his music career. He returned to Texas, where he attended San Antonio College, and later transferred to Southern Connecticut State University where he received degrees in French and history.
It is said that he discovered his vocation on a 1971 summer afternoon, lying on a hammock drawing. His mother was watching Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf, and the main characters, George and Martha, ultimately became characters in one of his children's books. Marshall continued as a children's author until his untimely death in 1992 of a brain tumor. In 1998, George and Martha became the basis of an eponymous animated children's television show.
In addition to George and Martha, the lovable hippopotami, James Marshall created dozens of other uniquely appealing characters. He is well-known for his Fox series (which he wrote as "Edward Marshall"), as well as the Miss Nelson books, the Stupids, the Cut-ups, and many more. James Marshall had the uncanny ability to elicit wild delight from readers with relatively little text and simple drawings. With only two minute dots for eyes, his illustrated characters are able to express a wide range of emotion, and produce howls of laughter from both children and adults.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
October 21, 2011
This book started slow on the first read. When Lolly told her story (straight out of a phonetic reader), I thought "oh, no." Ah, but that was the point! And as the story cleverly turns, Sam and Spider try to best each other with their own stories. Personally, my favorite was Sam's. It built wonderfully excruciating tension as Rat befriends a Cat who soon becomes hungry. Then Spider follows it up with a scary (and humorous) monster tale.
Overall, I loved the use of rhythm and rhyme throughout the book. It would make for interesting conversation about what makes a good story.
Overall, I loved the use of rhythm and rhyme throughout the book. It would make for interesting conversation about what makes a good story.
March 30, 2011
One of my favorite stories as a kid (a new book by the same title made me remember this and I thought I had better add it!) I loved the different perspectives and takes on the story--each kid puts his/her own twist to a tale using the same characters. Hilarious and delightful!
October 27, 2017
Found this book a bore and it almost made me snore, down by the sea.
Not to be confused with "Three By The Sea" by Mini Grey, which appears to be significantly more interesting. It kind of meanders and doesn't go anywhere.
There are three kids on the beach and they just ate, so they can't go swimming, and they don't want to take a nap, so the girl says, "Hey, I'm going to read you a story from my reader." And it's like the most boring story ever (thankfully it only takes up two pages of the book) and even the two boys are bored by it. One of the boys says, "I could tell a better story than that," and proceeds to tell a story about a rat going for a walk who goes to a pet shop and buys a cat because he wants a friend. Everyone keeps asking him if he really wants to do what he's doing. The cat says he's hungry, then the rat asks what his favorite dish is, and the cat says, "Are you sure you want to know?" and the rat says, "Yes," and the cat says, "Let's go somewhere where we can be alone." So they go to the beach, and then it keeps building suspense until the cat says he likes cheese and now they're both friends and the story ends. Then the other boy says, "That wasn't scary enough. I'm going to tell you a scary story." So he tells one about a monster who is sneaking up on the beach where the rat, cat, and all three children are, and it scares the two other kids, who then deny that they were scared, and then the kids go swimming. The end.
There's no point. There's very little plot. It's kind of boring. It seems to be intentional that the stories within the main story are badly written, but since the main story is just a bare framework, you end up with a series of badly-written stories. It's not very interesting to me. I don't have too much to say about it. It's not terrible; it's just annoying.
Message: Children's stories are badly written.
For more children's book reviews, see my website at http://www.drttmk.com.
Not to be confused with "Three By The Sea" by Mini Grey, which appears to be significantly more interesting. It kind of meanders and doesn't go anywhere.
There are three kids on the beach and they just ate, so they can't go swimming, and they don't want to take a nap, so the girl says, "Hey, I'm going to read you a story from my reader." And it's like the most boring story ever (thankfully it only takes up two pages of the book) and even the two boys are bored by it. One of the boys says, "I could tell a better story than that," and proceeds to tell a story about a rat going for a walk who goes to a pet shop and buys a cat because he wants a friend. Everyone keeps asking him if he really wants to do what he's doing. The cat says he's hungry, then the rat asks what his favorite dish is, and the cat says, "Are you sure you want to know?" and the rat says, "Yes," and the cat says, "Let's go somewhere where we can be alone." So they go to the beach, and then it keeps building suspense until the cat says he likes cheese and now they're both friends and the story ends. Then the other boy says, "That wasn't scary enough. I'm going to tell you a scary story." So he tells one about a monster who is sneaking up on the beach where the rat, cat, and all three children are, and it scares the two other kids, who then deny that they were scared, and then the kids go swimming. The end.
There's no point. There's very little plot. It's kind of boring. It seems to be intentional that the stories within the main story are badly written, but since the main story is just a bare framework, you end up with a series of badly-written stories. It's not very interesting to me. I don't have too much to say about it. It's not terrible; it's just annoying.
Message: Children's stories are badly written.
For more children's book reviews, see my website at http://www.drttmk.com.
October 23, 2022
Three By the Sea by Edward Marshall, illustrations by James Marshall (Dial Books for Young Readers 1981) (J-Fiction) (3692).
James Edward Marshall (one guy) both wrote and illustrated this book even though the author and illustrator are credited with different names. He is a master at creating simple books that appeal to the youngest readers.
I’m a huge fan of Marshall’s work; other stories he has created strike me as laugh-out-loud funny. I picked up this little volume for the pleasure of sampling his other offerings.
Three By the Sea will satisfy the tastes and needs of beginning readers. There is no reason to summarize the plot, for the story is practically irrelevant. The whole point of the book is to engage and capture interest in reading among small kiddos.
Not many authors can do this as well as James Edward Marshall.
My rating: 7/10, finished 10/19/22 (3692).
July 12, 2024
I'm not sure whether I would have enjoyed this as a child, but I'm sure my sons would have. I love the subtle snark against tropes, the 'meta' of it all, and I think that kids exposed to enough other books will appreciate that this stands out from them.
July 19, 2024
This one was so funny! Even as a beginning reader. I loved the subtle dig at basal readers (when Lolly reads from her book). And Spider temporarily scaring his friends with his story was funny. I love Marshall's cartoon illustrations; they fit the text perfectly.
March 15, 2026
3 stories within the story told by each character. Can tell the story was from the 1980’s. Illustrations dated. No real ending either. I would have liked it better if it flowed into one story. The sections were disjointed
May 16, 2018
"I'd rather not say," said the cat. HAHAHA!!
June 27, 2018
I loved this book!
September 23, 2025
9/23/25 Read with Skylar
May 29, 2008
Three children sitting by the ocean decide to tell stories to one another. When the first story is boring, the other two try their hand at storytelling. Each story gets progressively silly.
This book’s easy vocabulary, repetition, and good pacing make it great for children just learning to read.
This book’s easy vocabulary, repetition, and good pacing make it great for children just learning to read.
January 5, 2013
Three friends spend a day at the beach. After a big lunch, they tell each other stories while they wait for their food to digest. The first story is so simple that it begs for more detail. The second story has a funny twist and the third story has a scary twist.
A good easy reader that inspires storytelling as entertainment among friends.
A good easy reader that inspires storytelling as entertainment among friends.
May 23, 2008
This book is negative and has three judgmental characters who continual criticize one another's bad storytelling abilities. Unfortunately, the author can't seem to rid himself of his character's tragic flaw.
September 9, 2011
Not my favorite children's story, but it can be fun when encouraging small children to make up their own stories. You can use it to talk about what makes a story good or boring. The three characters compete to tell the best story.
August 11, 2014
I wonder if Edward Marshall is James' brother. Anyway, this books is alright. Cute. Not big treat for adults, but it does build on itself until you start to believe that the story that the children are telling is "the truth."
June 13, 2008
This book is pretty funny. I think I really love it because of the Reading Rainbow episode that featured it. The reading was so good! If you can find that show, I highly recommend it.
February 12, 2009
Very much fun for beginning readers! Pics by James Marshall - always entertaining.
July 22, 2010
Another classic. I like the idea of this for a program, or discussion--all the kids can make up their own story involving a rat, a cat, and cheese. Seems like it could be fun.
July 1, 2012
Read this one when I was a child and must have read it over many times. Three by the Sea suck with me.
September 26, 2012
Made the boys laugh!
May 21, 2014
A childhood favorite. Thank you Reading Rainbows.
September 26, 2014
kind of weird, but the monster part was so funny and hilarious.
October 8, 2015
Super cute learning-to-read book that is really three stories within a story. Clever, fun narration with several chuckles throughout.
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January 9, 2014..1/8/14MD 48 pgs
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews