ALA Booklist (Thu May 01 00:00:00 CDT 2003)

Similar in approach and format to Cole's I Took a Walk (1998), this picture book provides young children with an introduction to wildlife near the seashore as they search the illustrations for individual animals and plants named in the text. A little girl, glimpsed only in an inset picture on the cover and on the title page, narrates as she walks to the beach on a summer morning. Along the way, she tells what she sees. In design, the left-hand page folds out to make a wide horizontal spread of the scene. Visual and verbal clues will help children (and adults) find the snowy egret, the prickly pear cactus, and the tracks in the mud, but kids can also check the last page for a smaller, labeled version of each picture and confirmation of identities. Cole's acrylic paintings include graceful landscapes as well as clear, close-up pictures of the smaller ecosystems. Parents looking for an early introduction to nature study will find this an informative offering with a playful approach.

Horn Book (Sun Apr 01 00:00:00 CDT 2007)

Wally's science project proves that dinosaurs are alive. Unfortunately, the D.I.A. (Dinosaur Intelligence Agency) intercepts it to protect "the dinosaur way of life." Groan-inducing puns, silly facts, and vibrant illustrations showcase a parallel world where dinosaurs eat, dress, and behave the same as their human counterparts.

Kirkus Reviews

The mid-Atlantic coast with its myriad plants and animals comes to life in this marvelous search-and-find book. A walk to the beach on a summer morning leads the narrator through the woods, into a salt marsh, over the sand dunes, and onto the beach. In each spot, the narrator sits very still, and looks around to see "who's watching me." Native flora and fauna are the focus: Virginia creeper, loblolly pine, a nuthatch, a mosquito, sea oats, a red fox, an osprey, and a flock of pelicans. Every other page folds out, and features a list of plants and animals found in each of the four habitats. Cole's ( Rosie's Roses , p. 382, etc.) marvelously detailed and accurate illustrations give readers a peek into the natural world. Children and adults alike will love the challenge of matching the names on the list with the correct illustrations. The concluding message encourages young readers to experience the excitement of seeing the animals in the area where they live by finding "a place to sit and watch and listen," something that is sometimes difficult for squirmy, noisy children to do. Perfect for introducing youngsters to the world around them, and especially appropriate for anyone who visits or lives near the seashore. (answer key) (Picture book. 4-12)

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

Henry Cole encourages youngsters to take a closer look at their surroundings in his paper-over-board On the Way to the Beach. Gatefold flaps on spreads of marsh, dune and beach environments open to reveal animal life that seem to be hidden in the everyday natural world. As the unseen narrator sits """"very still in the sassafras beneath a loblolly pine,"""" for instance, she sees """"a swallowtail butterfly,/ a summer tanager,/ a scarlet snake"""" and more. A final page labels each creature clearly.

School Library Journal (Thu May 01 00:00:00 CDT 2003)

PreS-Gr 3 An open door and a path leading through the trees invite readers to join a young narrator on a nature walk and to observe the plants and wildlife that thrive in several different habitats. Each localethe woods, a salt marsh, dunes, and the beachis gloriously depicted in a three-page foldout that is entered through a die-cut. The scenes are filled with foliage and animals native to the particular environment and each one has a list of things to look for; some may be familiar to youngsters ("tracks in mud" or "a mosquito") and some may not ("salt marsh fleabane" or "a diamondback terrapin"). Phrases such as "an osprey with dinner" or "a clapper rail at its nest" give hints about which creature is which. A helpful key at the end assists with the identification of any flora or fauna that are missed. The outstanding realistic acrylic illustrations depict the scenes in an almost three-dimensional perspective, allowing children to feel as though they are entering the pictures. Double-page bridge illustrations show the gradual changes as the focus moves from one habitat to the next. Offering a wonderful opportunity for one-on-one sharing, this beautiful, interactive book encourages discussion, develops observation skills, and provides a learning experience that will bring children closer to nature. Marlene Gawron, formerly at Orange County Library, Orlando, FL