Disclosure: GreatfulMoments.com received a complimentary copy of Cora’s Beach Adventure in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. This article contains an Amazon affiliate link, and as an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you.
When giving Gifts for Christmas or Birthday I always love making sure children have at least one new book to read during the #Holidays. For myself reading has always been something near and dear to my heart. When Suzzane and Charlie were little, reading together was something we did every night. But reading wasn’t always easy for my children.
Suzzane struggled with reading, and I enrolled her in Sylvan Learning to help her improve. Charlie also struggled with reading, and even David has been working on improving his reading skills. Then something wonderful happened before Suzzane passed away. She discovered just how much she loved books and became absolutely obsessed with reading.
Oh, how I wish she were here today, because I found a children’s book I would have loved sharing with her It’s called Cora’s Beach Adventure, written by Sally M. Walker and illustrated by Julie Kwon. It’s the first adventure in the STEAM Street Kids early-reader series from MIT Kids Press, an imprint of Candlewick Press.
And buttercup, we’re going to the beach! Well, at least through the pages of a book. But who says we can’t bring a little beach adventure into our homes during Christmas? I think this book would make a wonderful Christmas stocking stuffer, a Christmas Eve surprise, or a gift for a child who is beginning to move into chapter books. And with my family helping Santa load the Sleigh I wanted to remind Santa, t0 add it to the sleigh for all the good little boys and girls on his list!
The first thing that caught my attention was the beautiful cover. There’s a little girl running through the waves wearing the cutest pink-and-white checkered bathing suit. Behind her stands a woman on the sandy beach, holding onto her hat. It must be windy because she looks like she’s trying to keep that hat from blowing away!
There are rocks, splashing waves, and beautiful sand just waiting to be explored.And then I discovered that the woman is Cora’s grandmother, Gran! Oh, Suzzane and I would have had so much fun pretending we were Cora and Gran, exploring the beach together. Although I could have seen Charlie and Suzzane’s grandmother Crazy Mimi saying move over Buttercup I got this #sandcastle in the bag. LOL
I don’t know about you but I can imagine us walking along the shoreline, looking for seashells, splashing in the water, and trying to build the biggest sandcastle we could. Although I have to admit, buttercup, I’ve never been particularly good at building sandcastles.
Mine usually looked more like a pile of wet sand than a castle. How about you? Are you an expert sandcastle builder, or would you be sitting beside me trying to figure out why the whole thing keeps falling down? Which could be a lot of fun to and lead to many laughs and new memories.
In the book we find out Cora and Gran are heading to the beach for a wonderful day together. Cora can’t wait to build a sandcastle, but she quickly discovers that finding the right sand is harder than she expected. As she explores the beach, she begins thinking about what makes a sandcastle strong enough to stand.
And then the adventure takes an unexpected turn. Cora discovers a sea star stranded in a puddle left behind by the low tide. Oh my goodness! It’s time for a sea star rescue! I’ve always thought sea stars were fascinating. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to see one in its home?
Cora and Gran’s adventure leads them to a tide pool filled with sea life waiting to be discovered. Along the way, readers learn about the beach, the ocean, and the creatures that call it home. And what better way to end a day at the beach than with a big ice cream sundae? You know Charlie and I would be all over that part!
In fact, I think we should take this book with us, head out for ice cream sundaes, and turn our reading adventure into a little family outing. Anyone up for a road trip? LOL Which could also be used as a #Homeschool Field Trip if your teaching your children like I did Suzzane and Charlie.
One thing I appreciate about Cora’s Beach Adventure is that the story is divided into five chapters. The chapters are A Day with Gran, The Tower, The Ice Cream Sundae, The Rescue, and Heading Home. Wait a minute! Heading home already? I’m not ready to leave the beach. Are you?
I love that the chapters allow families to break the story into smaller reading sessions. You could read one chapter each evening, talk about what happened, and then return the next day to discover what Cora and Gran do next. Which is a perfect addition to our 10 Minute Reading Challenge.
And the illustrations are absolutely beautiful and I like how almost every page has an illustration that helps bring the story to life. You could even make the story last longer by looking at the pictures and asking your children to create their own stories. What do they think Cora is feeling? What would they do if they discovered a sea star? What kind of sandcastle would they build? Sometimes the conversations we have while reading become just as special as the story itself.
One of the things that caught my attention about the STEAM Street Kids books is that the series is designed to offer different reading levels.
Level 1 introduces beginning readers to short factual sentences, repeated language, and sight words. Level 2 introduces longer sentences, comparative language, and more challenging vocabulary. Level 3 introduces more complex sentence structures, concepts, and new vocabulary.
Cora’s Beach Adventure is a Level 3 book.- Having children who struggled with reading taught me that every reader learns at their own pace. I can even see how Level 2 books might be useful for David as he continues working to improve his reading skills. And Level 3 books could provide opportunities for Charlie to practice reading and discussing unfamiliar words.
Reading isn’t just for little children. Learning and building confidence can happen at any age. The important thing is finding something that interests the reader and makes them want to turn another page. Now, here’s where this book becomes even more exciting for homeschooling families, teachers, grandparents, and parents looking for educational activities.
After Cora’s story ends, the learning continues. The book includes sections about sandcastle physics, beach biology, and ocean motion. Children can discover why some sand works better for building castles, explore what happens when the tide changes, and learn about creatures that live along the shoreline.
I especially appreciate that the science connects directly to the story. Children aren’t simply reading facts. They’re discovering answers to questions that Cora encounters during her adventure. And then there’s an activity involving sand! Who says we can’t build sandcastles during Christmas?
Just because it’s December doesn’t mean we have to put away our imaginations and wait for summer. You can create a little indoor beach adventure right at your kitchen table. The book includes a sand experiment using supplies that many families already have at home.
You’ll need one cup of plain dry sand, two containers, a half-cup dry measuring cup, a small plate, a tablespoon, and a cup of water. Don’t have sand? Check Walmart or Home Depot for children’s play sand. You don’t need an entire beach to enjoy this activity!
Set everything up on a washable tray or in a large plastic container to help contain the mess. Children can experiment with different amounts of water to discover which sand mixture works best for building a tower. Is dry sand better? Does adding a little water help? What happens if you add too much?
Have your children make predictions before trying each mixture. Then ask them to explain which mixture worked best and why. That’s science, problem-solving, and hands-on learning all rolled into one! And if you’re worried about the mess, buttercup, remember that we can always take our sandcastle adventure outside when the weather cooperates. A little safety reminder: Use clean play sand, supervise younger children, and keep sand away from mouths and eyes.
When we’re helping Santa load his sleigh this Christmas, let’s not forget about books! Cora’s Beach Adventure would make a wonderful Christmas stocking stuffer for a young reader. And I have another idea, Santa! Why not wrap this book separately and let the children open it on Christmas Eve?
After all, we know how excited children get waiting for Santa to arrive. They climb into bed, toss and turn, and wonder whether they’ll hear reindeer on the rooftop. Instead of staring at the ceiling, they could spend a little time at the beach with Cora and Gran! Parents or grandparents could cuddle up beside them and read a chapter together before bedtime.
And if your family participates in our 10-Minute Reading Journey, this book would be a wonderful addition. You don’t have to read the entire book in one sitting. Enjoy a chapter, talk about the illustrations, and save another chapter for Christmas morning. Who knows? Maybe Santa will leave a little bucket, shovel, and some sandcastle molds under the Christmas tree so the children can continue Cora’s adventure!
Now, Santa, I have another idea for your sleigh! Instead of wrapping only the book, why not create a little beach-themed Christmas gift basket? Start with Cora’s Beach Adventure and add a small sand bucket, a shovel, a sandcastle mold, and perhaps a few ocean-themed stickers. You could even include a gift card for an ice cream shop.
That way, after the child finishes reading about Cora and Gran’s adventures, they can enjoy their own ice cream sundae outing with Mom, Dad, Grandma, or Grandpa. And wouldn’t that make a wonderful memory? You could also add a little homemade coupon that says: Good for One Ice Cream Sundae and a Special Adventure Together! Sometimes the best Christmas presents aren’t the most expensive ones. They’re the ones that give families something special to do together.
Although we’re featuring Cora’s Beach Adventure in our Christmas Gift Guide Wishlist, I can see this book being enjoyed long after the decorations come down. I would have loved having a book like this when I was homeschooling Suzanne and Charlie and to share with my nieces and nephew.
I can also picture it in a first-grade classroom, where a teacher could read the story aloud and then help students investigate which type of sand mixture makes the strongest sandcastle. Wouldn’t that be a fun science lesson? School librarians could introduce children to the STEAM Street Kids series, and parents could borrow the book for family reading time.
The illustrations make it inviting, the chapters help children practice longer reading sessions, and the science activities encourage them to ask questions and explore. And that’s something I especially appreciate about this book. It doesn’t just tell children a story. It encourages them to think, experiment, and discover things for themselves.
Something else I discovered while exploring the publisher’s website is that MIT Kids Press offers so much more than one children’s book series. In fact, I found five pages of books to explore! Their collection introduces young readers to science, technology, engineering, mathematics, creativity, and discovery.
There are books for boys and girls with all kinds of interests. One that caught my attention was Discover Now: Computers. Oh, how I wish I’d discovered that one when Charlie was younger! With his interest in computers and gaming, I think we would have had a wonderful time exploring that book together.
I also spotted Maker Girl and Professor Smarts, which sounds like another fun adventure. And that’s what I love about discovering a new websites. You might start with one book and find an entire collection that encourages your children to explore something they’re passionate about.
MIT Kids Press also offers the opportunity to sign up for news and special offers. If your family enjoys educational books, I encourage you to explore their collection.
Sally M. Walker is an award-winning nonfiction author who has written more than sixty books for children. Her books include Blizzard of Glass: The Halifax Explosion of 1917, Written in Bone, Fossil Fish Found Alive, and Secrets of a Civil War Submarine, which received the Sibert Medal. I love discovering an author whose books can grow with a child.
Families who enjoy Cora’s Beach Adventure might want to explore some of her other titles as their children become more confident readers. The book’s illustrations are by Julie Kwon, whose artwork helps bring Cora and Gran’s adventures to life. And here’s something else worth mentioning: Publishers Weekly gave Cora’s Beach Adventure a starred review, recognizing its emphasis on creativity and critical thinking. That makes me even more excited to introduce this book to families looking for educational Christmas gifts.
Cora’s Beach Adventure is written by Sally M. Walker, illustrated by Julie Kwon, and published by MIT Kids Press, an imprint of Candlewick Press. The book contains 48 pages and is recommended by the publisher for ages 5–7, although older children who enjoy the subject or need additional reading practice may also appreciate it. The suggested U.S. retail price is $18.99 for the hardcover and $6.99 for the paperback. Prices and availability may vary. You can also learn more about the book through Candlewick Press.
As I sit here looking through Cora’s Beach Adventure, I can’t help thinking about Suzzane. I remember those evenings when reading was difficult for her. I remember wanting so badly to help her become more confident. And I remember how wonderful it was when she finally discovered that books could take her anywhere she wanted to go. I wish we’d had more time to share those adventures.
That’s one reason I encourage families to spend even ten minutes a day reading together. It doesn’t matter whether your child is reading independently, sounding out words, or simply enjoying the pictures while you read aloud. What matters is the time you’re spending together.
This Christmas, I hope Santa remembers to put a few books in his sleigh. And if one of those books happens to be Cora’s Beach Adventure, don’t forget the sandcastle supplies and the ice cream sundae! Because sometimes a book isn’t just a book. Sometimes it’s the beginning of a memory your family will treasure forever.
Grateful • Thankful • Blessed
GreatfulMoments.com
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
