Review by Booklist Review
Every summer, Maya, her mother, and her grandmother drive to the beach, where they join her aunts, uncles, and cousins. Last year, Maya's oldest cousin chose what to do first, but this year Maya and cousin Leo will decide: Sand or sea? Pails or snorkels? After applying sunscreen and listening to their mothers' safety lectures, the kids choose the ocean and run toward it, full tilt! But as soon as a frigid wave hits their ankles, they turn and dash back. Soon they're digging in the sand with their uncles and younger cousins, while Mom takes pictures. Sandwiches, naps, and shared activities fill their memorable day together. And riding home, Maya recalls her family's happy beach day, perhaps "the best day ever." It's notable that Maya's contentment is not marred by the fact that she and Leo had been scolded for inadvertently splashing water on their younger cousins, who reacted with tears. Soon, all was well again. The digitally drawn illustrations portray a biracial extended family enjoying their beloved summer beach day. Their emotions are evident in the art, while Maya's narrative focuses on her experiences. Anyone who remembers family outings at the beach will delight in seeing this picture book celebrate such similar, timeless activities.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Crews (Extraordinary Magic) pays homage to fond families and beatific beach days in this busy slice-of-life picture book. Young narrator Maya, portrayed with brown skin, takes readers along on an extended family's annual outing, tracing each step for "me and Mom, my grandma, my aunts, my uncles, and my cousins." Second-person phrases set the scene, tracing both how "you will be expected to carry buckets, bags, towels, and beach umbrellas across the hot sand" and how the group finds an ideal spot where the morning water is calm--"just right for swimming." Finally, after sunscreen and a safety lecture, "you will be free. Free to choose between sand and surf. Pails and snorkels." Feelings of autonomy, belonging, and camaraderie pervade the pages as the family plays in the water, digs in the sand, navigates splashing, and eats individualized sandwiches with their names on them ("It will be the best sandwich, ever"). Vividly peopled beach landscapes packed with lively details capture the warm, inviting atmosphere of the day, and the way it is held as both memory and promise: "We do this every summer. We love it." Characters are portrayed with various body types and skin tones. Ages 4--8. Agent: Marietta B. Zacker, Gallt & Zacker Literary. (May)
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Review by Horn Book Review
Young Maya's second-person narration describes a trip to the seaside with her extended family, sharing the joy of a cherished annual tradition. Crews (I'm Not Small, rev. 3/22, among others) skillfully captures the atmosphere of a bustling family gathering; her dynamic digital illustrations infuse the story with warmth and vitality, vividly portraying a sunlit beach, sparkling ocean waves, and animated family interactions. The illustrations beautifully showcase both active moments and quieter instances of togetherness. Each family member is depicted with a distinct personality, brought to life through facial expressions and body language. Maya's authentic and enthusiastic narration captures the humor and affection inherent in her family's interactions, highlighting memorable moments such as her heartfelt declaration that her sandwich -- the one with her name on it and "made especially" for her -- will taste like "the best sandwich ever." Crews's story celebrates the enduring warmth and timeless magic of summer days spent together. Annisha JeffriesJuly/August 2025 p.67 (c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
What could be better than a family day at the beach? Narrator Maya, a child of color with light-brown skin and Afro puff pigtails, explains it all to readers: "When you go to the beach with your cousins, aunts, uncles, grandma, and mom and you're doing something really fun, everyone gets involved." Maya's sentences are like the day itself: full of family and excitement, breathlessly racing from sand to surf and back. Crews' story and art take place entirely in double-page spreads that mostly teem with Maya's relations, a boisterous, multi-racial and -generational crew. The author/illustrator uses the gutter to balance her compositions, distributing family members across the tableaux. The few scenes that focus specifically on Maya and darker-skinned cousin Leo, who together get to make "all the decisions" this year, are all the more effective for Crews' variations in perspective. In a rare close-up, they joyously stir up a "TIDAL WAVE!"; in another, they appear in quadruplicate, dancing in and out of the waves in a striking, mirrored overhead view. Even when Maya and Leo's play results in a scolding, the love that binds this family together is as warm as the summer sun. This outing appears to be a once-a-year celebration, which distills and concentrates its importance: With a ritual as special as this one, of course lunch "will be the best sandwich, ever." Pure joy.(Picture book. 4-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
