When we were having our annual end of the school year family day at a local beach, I visited with a couple of kids who were building sand castles.
The moat was dug. Water was being transported to fill the moat. Seaweed and shells were decorating castle walls.
I was reminded of a beautiful book all about Kate, a girl who built a sand castle.
The moat was dug. Water was being transported to fill the moat. Seaweed and shells were decorating castle walls.
Kate's Castle
author: Julie Lawson
illustrator: Frances Tyrell
publishers:
Oxford University Press, 1992
Fitzhenry & Whiteside, 2005
Oxford University Press, 1992
Fitzhenry & Whiteside, 2005
fiction
age range: 5 - 7
sadly out of print
opening lines
This is the castle that Kate built.
This is the moat of sandy hue
That circles the castle that Kate built.
These are the mussels all purple and blue
That edge the moat of sandy hue
That circles the castle that Kate built.
This is the castle that Kate built.
This is the moat of sandy hue
That circles the castle that Kate built.
These are the mussels all purple and blue
That edge the moat of sandy hue
That circles the castle that Kate built.
summary: Kate spends a day at the beach building a sand castle. As she builds her castle in the sand, a castle is built in her imagination.
I love: Even if Julie Lawson did not live an hour's drive from me, even if she was not a teacher who retired to write full time, and even if I had not met her a few times and have a signed copy of the book (she does book presentations at schools and for children's book roundtables) and found her to be an absolutely lovely person, I would still love this book.
I love two things, the rich language of the text and how the illustrations tell two stories.
Kate's Castle is a repetitive story - just like the House that Jack Built. As such, Lawson's rich, lyrical language builds on itself, creating an almost magical "hum".
My favorite lines are ...
This is the staircase of twisting shells
That twirl and swirl in spiralling curls
Way up to the tower of treasury finds -
Moon snails and agates and sea urchin spines -
Kept in the castle that Kate built.
It has such a lovely rhythm and each syllable fits just right with the cadence of the text.
Frances Tyrell's illustrations fit the almost magical mood of the story.
Kate and her at the beach sand castle are portrayed in blue and white colour drawing. Very simple. Very clean. Soft and real.
On the opposite page, Tyrell uses a palette of soft blues and browns to create the castle of Kate's imagination.
The illustrations tell both stories; the building of the castle, visitors to the castle,
and finally, the tide coming in and washing the castle away,
leaving memories of an almost magical day at the beach.
I love: Even if Julie Lawson did not live an hour's drive from me, even if she was not a teacher who retired to write full time, and even if I had not met her a few times and have a signed copy of the book (she does book presentations at schools and for children's book roundtables) and found her to be an absolutely lovely person, I would still love this book.
I love two things, the rich language of the text and how the illustrations tell two stories.
Kate's Castle is a repetitive story - just like the House that Jack Built. As such, Lawson's rich, lyrical language builds on itself, creating an almost magical "hum".
My favorite lines are ...
This is the staircase of twisting shells
That twirl and swirl in spiralling curls
Way up to the tower of treasury finds -
Moon snails and agates and sea urchin spines -
Kept in the castle that Kate built.
It has such a lovely rhythm and each syllable fits just right with the cadence of the text.
Frances Tyrell's illustrations fit the almost magical mood of the story.
Kate and her at the beach sand castle are portrayed in blue and white colour drawing. Very simple. Very clean. Soft and real.
On the opposite page, Tyrell uses a palette of soft blues and browns to create the castle of Kate's imagination.
The illustrations tell both stories; the building of the castle, visitors to the castle,
and finally, the tide coming in and washing the castle away,
leaving memories of an almost magical day at the beach.
Julie Lawson has written a number of wonderful picture books, junior novels and early teen novels. Check out her website [here].
One sandcastle book needs company - here are some others.
One sandcastle book needs company - here are some others.
Click on the title to link to go to Goodreads.
Kate's Castle - Julie Lawson
Sandcastle - Mick Inkpen
Hamlet and the Magnificent Sandcastle - Brian Lies
sandcastle fun:
Seems to me to make sense to make sandcastles after reading sandcastle books. Sometimes you can get to the beach - other times the beach has to come to you.
A tiny, all-fit-together sand castle kit
complete with flags and gems from Play Trains.
If you can't get to the beach
bring the beach to you.
A sandcastle invitation to play from Frog in a Pocket
If you don't have enough sand to make a castle,
how about sand play dough.
Jen from Mama. Papa. Bubba added loose parts
to a sand play dough invitation.
It doesn't have to make a castle - but it could.
If sand is not a possibility,
then what about sandpaper!
Carolyn from The Pleasantest Thing
put together sandpaper castle pieces and shells
as a toddler busy bag.
I think that children up to 6-7 would enjoy this.
Finally, for How I Met Your Mother fans, Robin Sparkles and Sandcastles in the Sand!
Oh, that book looks beautiful!! I will have to try to get my hands on a copy. I love the activities as well. Thank you for sharing at Sharing Saturday!
ReplyDeleteI love the beach!! How fun to bring it home. Thanks for sharing all the sunny fun!
ReplyDelete