Bringing the Beach Home

A heartwarming picture book about the healing power of creativity and nature as a young child learns to bring the beach home through a special craft, offering comfort during life's transitions.

"Delicately warm and lovely. This is an understated yet graceful portrait of a child channeling negative feelings into something beautiful." --Kirkus Reviews

When the back-and-forth between Mom's and Dad's houses feels like too much, Rowan finds peace in the sounds of the waves and the feel of the sand. A wind chime made from collected beach treasures becomes a symbol of comfort, resilience, and the power of creating with our feelings.

This lyrical story supports emotional regulation and helps children process transitions through grounded, sensory storytelling.

What You'll Love Inside:

- Nature as Comfort: Shows how the peace of the natural world can ease anxiety and foster connection.

- Creating with Our Feelings: Encourages emotional expression through imaginative, hands-on projects.

- Visual Beauty: Lush, expressive illustrations and a cover rich with detail and texture bring the beach--and Rowan's journey--vividly to life.

- Family-Centered Resilience: Highlights the strength of family bonds and offers an empowering lens for children navigating shared custody or life's many changes.

A powerful story that gives children tools to process change--and reminds them that they can carry peace within them wherever they go.

Author: Laura Atkins
Publisher: Collective Book Studio
Published: 07/01/2025
Pages: 40
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 0.65lbs
Size: 10.70h x 7.10w x 0.40d
ISBN: 9781685558369
Audience: Ages 4-8


Review Citation(s):
Publishers Weekly 04/21/2025
Kirkus Reviews 05/01/2025
Foreword 04/21/2025
Booklist 07/01/2025 pg. 85
School Library Journal 06/27/2025 pg. 1

About the Author
Laura Atkins is a children's book author, editor, and creativity coach, with over thirty years in the children's book world. She also collects sea glass and creates sculptures and mobiles from shells, pebbles and driftwood. Laura has loved the beach all her life, especially the Bay Area beaches near her Berkeley, California home. She is the co-author of the first two books in the Fighting for Justice series for middle grade readers, Fred Korematsu Speaks Up and Biddy Mason Speaks Up, co-author of the call-to-action picture book, Calling All Future Voters! and author of the light-hearted picture book, Sled Dog Dachshund.

Evgenia Penman is a children's book illustrator based in the UK, with roots in Kazakhstan. Her journey began as a graphic designer, where she learned to harness the power of visuals. After serving as an art director in an international advertising agency, she recognized that her true passion lay in storytelling through illustration. This summer, she participated in the Advanced Track at the Picturebook Summer School in Cambridge, pushing the boundaries of her craft. Evgenia is dedicated to creating heartwarming stories that resonate with both young readers and their parents, believing that every book can inspire imagination and foster joy.