At the Beach

Spurr and Oliphant wrap up a board book trilogy that began with In the Garden and In the Woods. Like its predecessors, this book is built around succinct phrases; in this case, they follow a boy’s day at the shore. “Dig/ Fill/ Pat/ Bake/ Boy makes.../ a birthday cake,” writes Spurr as Oliphant uses gentle textures to suggest the rippling ocean and sandy beach. Although the boy’s sand creation proves temporary, it’s clear that his mother’s love is anything but. Ages 1–3. Agent: Natalie Fischer Lakosil, Bradford Literary. (May)