Seashell Key
By Lourdes Heuer; illustrated by
Lynnor Bontiago
Publisher: Amulet Books (April 30,
2024)
Publisher’s Blurb:
Seashell Key is the first in author Lourdes Heuer and award-winning
illustrator Lynnor Bontigao’s young chapter book series—perfect for fans of
Princess in Black and Mercy Watson, about a diverse community of kids living in
a beautiful seaside town!
Welcome to Seashell Key! Summer is here, and the children of this cozy coastal
town are ready to welcome visitors to their little oasis. There’s Mateo, who
runs his little kite-making business, Sail and Soar, alongside his dad’s Sky
and Sea store; Sasha and Sophia, who comb the seashore next to their mother’s
sandwich stand; and Eli, Ezra, and Elana, who live in the cozy-but-cramped
lighthouse and entertain passing tourists with tall tales.
Filled with a vibrant cast and lots of summery fun, this is the start of an
exciting chapter book series.
I
requested this book because of the comparisons to Princess in Black,
which is much loved at my house. It shares the same whimsical take on life, providing
subtle life lessons without taking itself too seriously.
Divided into parts, each of which is a few chapters long, this first book in the projected series introduces all of our characters—six children, a dog, and a turtle. Parents and other adults are peripheral to the action, but not nonexistent.
In this book, it is the first day of the summer tourist season at Seashell Key, and the children are having adventures. Some are creating their own businesses. Others are just enjoying their beautiful seaside town. These are actual children, full of imagination, not over-precocious caricatures.
While my ARC was not yet fully illustrated, there were enough illustrations to see that they are vibrant, active and colorful.
This would be a fun book to bring along on your own beach trip with a child.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an advanced reader copy in exchange for my opinion.
No comments:
Post a Comment