friday's five, water play day

Where I live, July has brought the heat and the humidity, and it's not playing around. It's so hot, my hot flashes have ceased to flash and are just on permanent blast. What's better on a super hot day than to be near some cool water-- pools for me, and lakes/ponds/oceans/etc for those who don't mind unseen things touching their skin randomly. In this spirit, I bring you five picture books that celebrate the joys of water, perfect for reading with the littles in your life during your hot and humid months.

1. Sandy Feet! Whose Feet?: Footprints at the Shore written by Susan Wood and illustrated by Stetiyana Doneva

Let's head to the beach! When two kids spend the day at the shore with their parents and dog, they quickly notice how they all make prints in the sand. Some are big and easily recognizable, like their own footprints and those of their puppy pal. But others are tiny, like the sandpiper, or zig-zaggy, like the shuffling crabs that go by. Sea stars, sea gulls, and turtles all join in the mix, too, each with a unique impression left in the sand after they move on. This is a great book to read with kids before a trip to the shore, and can encourage some observational activity when you're there. 

2. Sail Away Little Boat written by Janet Buell and illustrated by Jui Ishida

If I had a toddler in my life right now, I imagine we'd be reading this one again and again. Sweetly worded, rhyming text tells the story of a small toy boat navigating its way from a little brook, to a river, and all the way to an ocean, from one set of children to another. Along the way, it passes many creatures, big and small, who spend their days near water-- foxes, newts, dragonflies, mink, otters, and more. It passes people using the river and ocean, too. This picture book introduces so many concepts related to natural bodies of water and their inhabitants, and it does so in a fun and gentle way perfect for older toddlers and preschoolers.

3. The Biggest Puddle in the World written by Mark Lee and illustrated by Nathalie Dion

When two kids spend a week at their grandparents' house, the weather turns quite rainy for a few days. This causes them to wonder where all that rain comes from, and their grandfather is happy to give them a little lesson about nature. But rather than just tell them the answer, he waits until the rain stops and brings them on a little adventure to find the biggest puddle in the world. They observe water in lots of different forms as they walk through some woods and fields. Their grandfather encourages their curiosity by asking them questions, and when they finally get to that huge 'puddle,' he helps them put together all their observations to give context to the water cycle. There is much to note in Dion's illustrations, lovely details of the natural world. 

4. A Beach Tail written by Karen Lynn Williams and illustrated by Floyd Cooper

This was a book that two of my kids loved when they were younger-- a trip to the beach through the pages of a book! Young Gregory draws a lion in the sand and is told by his dad to stay with his lion. Technically, he follows directions, but as the lion's tail continues to grow, Gregory moves along the beach and away from where his father expected him to be. While he's never in any real danger, Gregory does begin to worry, but his observations about his beachy environment (and the lion's tail!) help him find his way back. Cooper's illustrations make the sandy feel of the beach come through perfectly!

5. Over and Under the Pond written by Kate Messner and illustrated by Christopher Silas Neal

I'm doing it again-- recommending a book that I haven't actually seen. But, I have seen two other  of her related books -- Over and Under the Snow and Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt -- and I adored both of those for their realism and facts about the natural world, as well as for Neal's enchanting illustrations. From this cover alone, I can see that his magical touch works beautifully for the under water scenes. I'm confident that this is a book that I will love when I actually get my hands on it, and I think it works perfectly under this theme. 

Hope some of these fit the bill for summer reading!