Winner of the Florida Book Awards' Gold/Reichert Award! Sunny-as-a-summer-sky rhymes chronicle a mother and son sharing a day of sand digging, seashell collecting, and seashore exploring. Kids will learn about a variety of shells and count along with the boy as he totals up his collection, puts his shells away, and then drifts off into a well-earned bedtime. A spread of seashell facts caps off the story. This captivating, narrative nonfiction title featuring nature and counting is an ideal fit for home, preschool and kindergarten bookshelves. Pair it with the author’s beloved It’s a Firefly Night for a delightful day-to-night duo. PreS-Gr 1—A young boy walks down to the seashore with his mother to search and dig for seashells. He discovers shells in many shapes and sizes, and even a couple objects that are not shells. He excitedly counts his treasures and upon returning home creates a display. Each shell is labeled, and the final page offers an array of fun facts about shells and shell-dwelling creatures. This book's illustrations are truly gorgeous, done in a highly detailed cut-paper collage. Bright, joyful colors and sand that appears to have a true "sandy" texture also contribute to the visual appeal. The rhyming text in this book is simple, though a couple of rhymes feel a tad forced: "I count other shells— five, six, seven, eight. My shells are curvy—never straight." The boy's mother provides her son and curious, beachcombing readers with some valuable insight. "This shell is a home," she explains as she holds up a snail. "Let's put it back to live in the sea." Discovering the purpose of shells for small marine animals may inspire some young readers to learn more, as might the beautiful variety of shells the boy displays at the end. VERDICT A delightful purchase, perfect for sharing in the summertime and piquing little ones' curiosity.—Sara White, Seminole County Public Library, Casselberry, FL "Beautifully rendered illustrations, which use cut-paper and collage techniques to create bright, attractive beach scenes ... A charming beach-day book to share with a young child beginning to show interest in the natural world." ― Kirkus Reviews "This book's illustrations are truly gorgeous, done in a highly detailed cut-paper collage. Bright, joyful colors and sand that appears to have a true "sandy" texture also contribute to the visual appeal... Discovering the purpose of shells for small marine animals may inspire some young readers to learn more, as might the beautiful of shells the boy displays at the end... A delightful purchase." ― School Library Journal "Beautifully rendered illustrations, which use cut-paper and collage techniques to create bright, attractive beach scenes ... A charming beach-day book to share with a young child beginning to show interest in the natural world." — Kirkus Reviews "This book's illustrations are truly gorgeous, done in a highly detailed cut-paper collage. Bright, joyful colors and sand that appears to have a true "sandy" texture also contribute to the visual appeal... Discovering the purpose of shells for small marine animals may inspire some young readers to learn more, as might the beautiful of shells the boy displays at the end... A delightful purchase." — School Library Journal This story was inspired by 'mommy and me' memories from my own childhood.  We often had a vacation by the beach, and those beach walks always included collecting and counting all the interesting shells!  It's my hope that this book will get today's little ones excited about the wonders of nature...and that it will inspire many future seaside memories for families. Dianne Ochiltree: Dianne Ochiltree grew up in a family that loved nature, animals, and books. She shares her enthusiasm for writing with budding writers of all ages at schools, libraries, and bookstore events.  She has  authored several math-orientated picture books over the years. Take a look at her great-for-kids-parents-teachers-and-retailers website at dianneochiltree.com Elliot Kreloff: Elliot Kreloff has lent his dazzling talents as author and illustrator to many acclaimed children's books. He is also Blue Apple Books' Associate Publisher and Creative Director.