Good Night, Good Beach (Joy Cowley, illus Hilary Jean Tapper, Gecko Press)

A celebration of summer, holidays and the natural world, award-winning Aotearoa New Zealand author Joy Cowley’s latest picture book, Good Night, Good Beach, follows five children and their adventures across one day as they explore their holiday house and surrounds. From bunk beds and crumpled sheets to walks on the beach, finding treasures on the shore and falling asleep with the sea at the door and shells under their pillows, Cowley captures the excitement of being away from home through a simple poem. The text awakens the senses through her use of language, evoking touch, sound, taste and smell. Hilary Jean Tapper’s illustrations enhance the story, capturing the playful mood with warm colours. Tapper brings the cast of characters to life, and the different ages of the children make this a story that will appeal to readers aged 2–5. The lyrical language makes it a perfect calming bedtime story for younger children, and older children will enjoy exploring the illustrations and uncovering all the little details. Good Night, Good Beach is a simple but powerful book that captures the joy of childhood and is a story families will treasure.

Books+Publishing reviewer: M H Alessandrino is a Perth based freelance writer and reviewer. Books+Publishing is Australia’s number-one source of pre-publication book reviews.

Category: Friday Unlocked reviews Reviews