Michelson takes up the challenge of writing beach-related poetry for every letter of the alphabet, with
topics such as flip-flops, pails, and waves. While most of the poems take place in summer, in “I Is for Ice,”
a child in a snowsuit visits a familiar beach in winter and finds it utterly strange, “like a magical ice castle
floor.” One or two poems appear on each double-page spread, accompanied by a pleasant watercolor
illustration. Reflecting the words and tone of the verse, the pictures create varied effects within the
seemingly similar setting. Offering a view of the beach from overhead, the picture for “U Is for Umbrella”
shows a colorful garden of patterned beach umbrellas. Ettlinger’s paintings of animals (dogs, gulls, crabs)
are particularly well drawn. A nicely illustrated collection of beach poems accessible to primary-grade
children.