For as long as I can remember I loved the ocean. I’m not sure how that can be possible since I grew up in the Midwest and the closest ocean was almost 1000 miles away! Maybe my first visit at 9 months old somehow got into my bones, for I feel that the ocean has always been home and now that I’m closer than I’ve ever been before, I feel that it call to me each day. I hoped that my children would love the ocean too, and we leapt at the first opportunity to thank them, but before they ever saw the ocean, their first wave or played in the sand I read them books about the ocean. The number of children’s books that feature children of color at the beach has grown over time and I’m so delighted to share these books with you today. Let’s dive on in.

This may be my daughter’s favorite book. I always try to read this story with my “pirate” voice, because I imagine that salty, old Swashby would have a cantankerous voice. This delightful tale shows how friendship and families can grow in the most sandy of spots.

My husband and I picked up this book in Oahu, last year and the illustrations are so delightful. As the title suggests, this books shows our toes in all their glory all throughout the day involved in various activities on an island. Sandy, wet and tan toes play all the time. The back matter contains a glossary with Hawai’ian words and scrapbook pages to trace your toes.

Ty imagines a wonderful day at the beach with his Father. He plays in the sand, sees the gulls and eats ice pops without leaving the backyard. Later his friend Jazz, his best friend, comes over the fence to visit and join in their imaginary Beach fun!

Bold illustrations and simple text take us to the beach with a cute family on their summer swim. Young toddlers and preschoolers will enjoy natural scenes and will have plenty to describe on each page.

The side by side story of a boy and his mother and a whale calf its mother and they travel along the sea. Dario must occupy his time while his mother works at a seaside restaurant, but his Portuguese is a barrier.. Even though Dario struggles on land, he finds a friend in the giant whale calf. Follow along as the boy and whale spend time together and when the whale must move on, Dario finds a new friend. The back matter includes information about Right Whales.

This is a true and amazing story about MaVynee Betsch, and opera singer, environmentalist and daughter of Florida’s first African American millionaire. Because the South was divided in all things Race related, MaVynee’s father purchased his own piece of seashore for his family and friends to frequent as they pleased. This book gives a brief and colorful history of American Beach, just north of Jacksonville, Florida, where MaVynee made her home upon returning to Florida after an opera career in Europe. Yes, she lived on the beach, read this book and do your own research, the end matters do include more information and resources about MaVynee and American Beach.

This is the sort of book, that I wish I could recreate in real life. The sweet idea of a child reaching out to someone who needs a friend, the joy of using our imagination to escape and the relief that the natural world offers are found in the pages of this book. I couldn’t help but laugh when the grandmother of the story asked the young girl what her name is after the girls have been playing for may have been the entire morning. This is a constant conversation I’m having at the park or beach when my children find someone to play with and never ask the other their name, I’m glad to know it’s a universal experience. The book goes full circle and the shy girl extends friendship to an even more timid child she notices later during the week.

Another favorite story in our home, remember how I told you the Atlantic was almost 1000 miles away from our Midwest home. Well, a few years ago we we’re planning a beach vacation and I packed this book in our suitcase to read on the beach to the kiddos, Of course they could didn’t listen to one word of the book on the beach, lol, but they remembered, from a previous reading, how the little boy made a long line on the beach with his stick and they did the same.