This was not one of my favorite books by Karen Williams for one main reason. Most of her books talk about challenges that children in developing countries face, with underlying plots about just being a kid. While A Beach Tail was a nice story, it didn't have nearly as much of an impact as her other stories had on me. However, I think getting lost and being scared is something that is relatable to most young children. Still a good read for read-aloud or a bedtime story. The main idea of this story is that being playful and clever can sometimes help you in the long run. Another message that I got from this book is to make choices that keep you safe, an example being how Gregory gets lost on the beach and loses sight of his dad. This was a very nice and wholesome book.

This is a story of a boy who goes to beach with dad. At the beach the boy sees many animals This is a great story for questioning because we never know what animal comes next.

Peer share
preschool-3rd grade

In this story, Gregory goes to the beach with his dad. He draws a lion in the sand - Sandy. His dad tells him not to leave Sandy and don't go in the water! So, Gregory draws a tail for Sandy and he does not go in the water. Gregory meets many interesting creatures. He goes over and under, around and around various things. Until... he can no long see his dad! What will he do? This is a fun book about curiosity and exploring.
Ages: PK-2
Source: Pierce County Library ( )

A boy at the beach who wanders and finds items at the beach
Ages 3-7
Source Pierce County Library ( )

Gregory and his father take a trip to the beach. Gregory draws a sandy lion in the sand and his father tells him "Don't get in the water, and don't leave Sandy." Gregory starts drawing a tail on Sandy, but when he looks up, he cannot find his father. Gregory retraces his steps, seeing all of the objects he found on the beach, and returned to his father. This would be a good book to use for teaching repetition, because the author uses the same phrases at the end of each page. ( )