Surf's Up - by Kwame Alexander (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

This paperback edition is a radical, rousing high-five to the power of reading.

Surf's up! Not yet, Dude! Books are boring! Not this one!

Bro and Dude have very different ideas about how to spend the day at the beach. But as Bro continues to gasp and cheer as he reads his book (Moby Dick), Dude can't help but get curious. Before you can shout "Surf's up!" both frogs are sharing the same adventure, that is, until they get to the beach. Newbery Award Medal winner Kwame Alexander and celebrated illustrator Daniel Miyares offer a joy-filled ride on the magical waves where storytelling and imagination meet.

Review Quotes

"It's a wild ride on the sea of imagination, and a rousing high-five to the power of reading."-- "Publishers Weekly, starred review"

"Newbery Award winner Alexander's humorous, tautly poetic dialogue between friends begs to be read aloud to small listeners or by new readers, and these frogs have cultural punch that many plain-vanilla animal characters lack. The nod to Moby-Dick is a bonus. A warmhearted tribute to reading."-- "Kirkus Reviews, starred review"

"With their strategic use of color and line, the illustrations work well with Alexander's snappy, spare text (all in dialogue) to create a high-energy tribute to the power of a good book."-- "The Horn Book"

A joyful and humor-filled ode to the magic of imagination and reading.-- "School Library Journal"

About the Author

Kwame Alexander is an Emmy(R) Award-winning producer, and #1 New York Times bestselling author of 45 books, including J vs. K, an illustrated novel he penned with Jerry Craft, and The Crossover, his Newbery Medal-winning novel turned Disney+ TV series. He is also the executive producer of Acoustic Rooster and His Barnyard Band and Acoustic Rooster: Jazzy Jams, a PBS KIDS special and series of shorts produced by GBH Kids based on his beloved children's book of the same name. A recipient of the 2025 NAACP Image Award, Kwame is the founder of the literacy non-profit One Word at a Time.

Daniel Miyares is a critically acclaimed picture book author and illustrator. Some of his books include: Float, Night Out, That is My Dream, and Bring Me A Rock!. Daniel has been called ". . . a master of visual storytelling."-Jody Hewston, Kinderlit, and ". . . enchanting, versatile" - The New York Times. He believes that our stories have the power to connect us all. Daniel's story currently takes place in Lenexa, KS with his wife, their two wonderful children, and a dog named Violet that gives them all a run for their money. To find out more visit danielmiyares.com or stop by @danielmiyaresdoodles on Instagram.