Bringing the Beach Home - by Laura Atkins (Hardcover)

About the Book

In Bringing the Beach Home, Rowan is tired of the back-and-forth between Mom's and Dad's houses until a special day at the beach with Dad sparks something magical. Initially overwhelmed by the crashing waves and blaring sun at first, Rowan soon finds peace by tuning into nature and using creativity to connect to a sense of home. After they head back, Rowan and Dad craft a wind chime from seashells, a stick, and some pebbles, bringing the magic of the beach back with them.

Book Synopsis

A heartwarming picture book about the healing power of creativity and nature as a young child learns to bring the beach home through a special craft, offering comfort during life's transitions.

"Delicately warm and lovely. This is an understated yet graceful portrait of a child channeling negative feelings into something beautiful." --Kirkus Reviews

When the back-and-forth between Mom's and Dad's houses feels like too much, Rowan finds peace in the sounds of the waves and the feel of the sand. A wind chime made from collected beach treasures becomes a symbol of comfort, resilience, and the power of creating with our feelings.

This lyrical story supports emotional regulation and helps children process transitions through grounded, sensory storytelling.

What You'll Love Inside:

- Nature as Comfort: Shows how the peace of the natural world can ease anxiety and foster connection.

- Creating with Our Feelings: Encourages emotional expression through imaginative, hands-on projects.

- Visual Beauty: Lush, expressive illustrations and a cover rich with detail and texture bring the beach--and Rowan's journey--vividly to life.

- Family-Centered Resilience: Highlights the strength of family bonds and offers an empowering lens for children navigating shared custody or life's many changes.

A powerful story that gives children tools to process change--and reminds them that they can carry peace within them wherever they go.

Review Quotes

"Vibrant illustrations . . . evoke the textures of a beach day, from flowing water to rough sand."-- "Foreword Reviews"

"I knew I wanted this book as soon as I saw it...But I didn't know how much I would love it!"--Elaine Elinson, coauthor of the award-winning Wherever There's a Fight

"Original, deftly crafted, effectively illustrated, Bringing the Beach Home is especially and unreservedly recommended reading..."-- "Midwest Book Review"

"This heartwarming tale will inspire readers to use their own creativity in response to nature, helping them feel more connected to themselves and to nature itself."--Melita Granger, author and editor

"More purposeful than plotty, this is a potentially helpful pick for conversations around mindfulness and split households..."-- "Booklist"

"Bringing the Beach Home provides a great sense of love, creativity, and natural calm."--Nanny Miss Monique, Childcare Industry Influencer and Early Literacy Advocate

"Atkins writes a creativity- and sensory-oriented story that hints at how art and nature can serve as emotional anchors, offering continuity and renewal."-- "Publishers Weekly"

"Delicately warm and lovely. This is an understated yet graceful portrait of a child channeling negative feelings into something beautiful."-- "Kirkus Reviews"

About the Author

Laura Atkins is a children's book author, editor, and creativity coach, with over thirty years in the children's book world. She also collects sea glass and creates sculptures and mobiles from shells, pebbles and driftwood. Laura has loved the beach all her life, especially the Bay Area beaches near her Berkeley, California home. She is the co-author of the first two books in the Fighting for Justice series for middle grade readers, Fred Korematsu Speaks Up and Biddy Mason Speaks Up, co-author of the call-to-action picture book, Calling All Future Voters! and author of the light-hearted picture book, Sled Dog Dachshund.

Evgenia Penman is a children's book illustrator based in the UK, with roots in Kazakhstan. Her journey began as a graphic designer, where she learned to harness the power of visuals. After serving as an art director in an international advertising agency, she recognized that her true passion lay in storytelling through illustration. This summer, she participated in the Advanced Track at the Picturebook Summer School in Cambridge, pushing the boundaries of her craft. Evgenia is dedicated to creating heartwarming stories that resonate with both young readers and their parents, believing that every book can inspire imagination and foster joy.