Reviews

Swashby and the Sea by Beth Ferry

jomarch436's review

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lighthearted relaxing fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

This was a cute book about found family. The art style is adorable. But this is another picture book that I think I’d enjoy more reading to a kid; as an adult it’s just good but I wasn’t blown away.

misspippireads's review

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3.0

A cute grumpy/sunshine story along the sea/beach.
Swashby is grumpy with his new joyful neighbors. He leaves messages in the sand that the waves play with and change.
As the description reads, it's a salty and sweet story about making friends.
This is a lengthier picture book so I would not use it at storytime.

Reviewed from a library copy.

roseleaf24's review

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5.0

Wonderful illustrations by Juana Martinez-Neal. They play and interact with the text beautifully, adding meaning and depth. This is a sweet story from Beth Ferry, of Swashby, an old sailor, who just wants to be left alone with his beloved sea. But then a young girl and her grandmother move in next door, and he learns that sharing does not limit but increases the gifts of the sea.

anniejaneb's review

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5.0

Excellent, excellent, excellent! Adorable story and adorable illustrations!

jenmkin's review

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5.0

This book is incredibly sweet & I love it

bookenthusiast13's review

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4.0

ages 3-7

mamabearian's review

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5.0

This is a book about a grumpy recluse of a sailor who retires to the beach. He’s happy to be alone. So when a little girl and her grandma move in next door, he tries whatever he can to tell them to go away by writing messages in the sand. Unfortunately, the sea keeps messing with his messages and pushing him to interact with them. I loved the illustrations. The colors and style are a perfect complement to the text.

barbarianlibarian's review

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4.0

pretty dang cute

teganbeesebooks's review

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5.0

Monarch 2024

beths0103's review

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5.0

A salty, old, curmudgeonly sailor looks forward to a quiet retirement by the sea until a little girl and her mom move next door, which greatly displeases him. He leaves messages for the girl in the sand, but as the ocean is wont to do, the messages get altered, leading the young girl to think old Swashby is telling her to do something else...