Back to the Beach is a simple but lively story about Gus and his dog, Sam, who experience a gleeful day at the beach. Amidst their playful romping, racing, splashing, and exploring, Gus and Sam come across various beach treasures. One by one, they present each treasure to Gus’s parents, who relax “back at the blanket,” and one by one, each treasure is denied in the rhyming chorus. This story is suitable for early/emerging readers and beachlovers alike. Written primarily in prose, there is a recurrent rhyming refrain that contributes to its appeal for “chiming in” when shared aloud. The illustrations, intended to be bright, lively, and engaging, feature mixed media, including coloured pencil, graphite, and watercolour.

In Return to the Sea, a young girl and her family set off on a summer road trip from Ontario to the Maritimes. On their way to their grandparents’ cottage in New Brunswick they visit many of the most famous tourist attractions east of Ontario: historic Quebec City; the world’s longest covered bridge in Hartland, New Brunswick; the legendary tides of the Bay of Fundy; Peggy’s Cove; the city of Halifax; and Anne’s Prince Edward Island. Everything from the car ride, to pirate stories, bonfires, and bike rides, is cherishingly documented by a young girl.

Following in the footsteps of East to the Sea, Heidi Jardine Stoddart’s Return to the Sea is another enchanting story that captures the wonder and curiosity of a child. Stoddart’s storybook rhyming verse is accompanied by her detailed illustrations making this a perfect tale for all children. In particular, this book makes a wonderful souvenir for boys and girls who have visited the east coast: like the characters in the book, they can remember and recount their magical trip.