along the beach collecting
pebbles. An older girl was
sitting on a log. She watched
Ellie for a few seconds.
"Want to see my magic boat?"
she asked.
Ellie followed the girl to an old
blue boat that was half buried in the sand."
Ellie and her Nonna spend summer days at the beach. Ellie loves what the beach has to offer - sand, shells, pebbles, kelp bulbs and cooling waves of water. She is happy by herself, too shy to make a connection with the other children on the beach. Her Nonna worries.
Everything changes when Ellie meets the imaginative and adventurous Piper, who invites Ellie to join her on her 'magic' boat. Imagination soars as the two enjoy flights of fancy where they encounter all the beauty of their surroundings. They sail on a dinghy, float into the sky on a balloon, and return just in time for snacks on the beach with Nonna.
The following day they enjoy underwater scenes of jellyfish, an octopus, perch and otters. Then, it is time for Piper to return to the city, leaving Ellie alone with the old blue boat.
"She tried to sail out to sea. She tried to fly in the air. She tried
to sink under the water. But nothing happened."
Returning to her normal pursuits with Nonna is not quite as satisfying anymore. Ellie watches a boy on the beach. When he returns the next day, she uses what she has learned from Piper to initiate a new friendship and further adventure.
I love the pace of the story, as well as the many west coast scenes that are created in words and pictures in this collaborative work. Sunny watercolors and penciled details take readers effortlessly from what is real to what is imagined, delighting young readers and providing a real sense of wonder for the setting.
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