Enchanted Beach, written by Esther Freud and illustrated by Emma Chinnery. Candlewick Press, Penguin Random House. 2025. $24.99 ages 4 and up

 

"On New Year's Day, a spell is spun. 
After breakfast, rain or sun, 
enchanted marchers reach the beach, 
and at the whistle, with a screech, 

every person races in. A dash, a shriek. 
They're out again."

I had a plan to add another grandparent story today. Having described Pebble Beach to you yesterday, I found myself thinking about the admiration for a beach felt in all seasons. This love letter to the beach a family visits through every season is a delight. 

No matter the season, the red-hatted boy and his family find joy in all the beach has to offer: flying kites on windy days, jumping in the waves, floating on hot days while allowing the imagination to run wild with adventure, building castles, listening to shells, and dipping for crabs. Autumn follows summer with its strong winds, ever-changing weather, and cooler days. 

Winter brings icy puddles, snow on the sand, and a chance for those brave enough to take a quick dip. New Year's Eve is cause for celebration and new promises. The following day observes the Polar Bear Plunge many are willing to take. Maybe next year for our young boy ... 

"Swept and battered, littered, cluttered.
   Calm descends; we're left with gifts. 
                             A boot. 
                           A trunk.
                      A seal to meet. 
            A rusty jewel-encrusted seat."

Spring brings further treasures. Summer means camping, and an ice cream truck. The love felt is palpable and will be familiar to those whose lives are spent beside the water. Detailed mixed media illustrations give full life to the beach as it changes through the seasons, while offering memorable scenes for readers. The more time spent poring over the pages, the more there is to see.