My Dear Sea

André Carrilho

Book cover for My Dear Sea
Book cover for My Dear Sea

My Dear Sea

My Dear Sea

André Carrilho

View full details

Description

Come on a family beach trip with a girl and her family as she swims in the waves, builds sandcastles, learns to keep the ocean clear of trash--and develops a bond with the sea.

On a family beach trip, an excited young swimmer rushes to the water as her dad cautions her to respect the sea. As she swims in the waves and builds sandcastles onshore, she shares valuable lessons on responsibility that she learned from her best friend, the sea.

As she explores ancient sea caves and glimpses amazing creatures just beyond the waves, she reminds us all that caring for and respecting the sea also means keeping it clear of trash and pollution. As the day closes on another successful beach adventure, she waves farewell to her friend and promises to return tomorrow.

My Dear Sea is a love letter to the sea and all it holds, with pages full of jewel-toned illustrations in pastels depicting beach scenes and marine surprises. Rhyming lines reveal important lessons all beachgoers should know about the ocean's importance and its conservation, making for a perfect classroom STEAM read-aloud and beach-lover's reading gift.

About the Author

André Carrilho is an award-winning designer, illustrator, caricaturist, and animator from Lisbon, Portugal. His political and pop culture work has been published in the New York Times, The New Yorker, Vanity Fair, and The Gorillaz Art Book, among others. He has been awarded a gold medal for his portfolio by the Society for News Design and a gold medal at the Society of Illustrators' Annual Exhibition, Illustrators Annual #63, and was a finalist at the Bologna Children's Book Fair Illustrators Exhibition 2024.

Critical Reviews

2025 Picture Books To Have On Your Radar -- BookRiot


"Positively mesmerising..." -- Booklist


"With illustrations that could hang on a wall, this picture book is a love letter to the sea through the eyes of a little girl who has been taught to love and respect the ocean. I could hear the ocean and feel its breeze while reading!" -- BookRiot


"An immensely gorgeous tale of oceanic depth, perfect for reading aloud to preschoolers and early elementary children." -- School Library Journal


"A unique, delightful oceanic ode." -- Kirkus Reviews


"FIVE STARS Carrilho creates a whimsical beach world in his story, with colorful illustrations that practically leap off the page...[for] parents/caregivers who are looking for a good beach book." -- Youth Services Book Review


"The illustrations are so perfectly paired with this rhyming story that offers an ode to the rhythms and power of the sea. A reminder of our need to respect it, but also to care for it. It leaves me with the question, if the sea is our friend, an entity here in the beginning, how do we continue to show our love to it? Whimsical, ecological, hopeful!" -- Morgan, Bookmarks, NC


Publishing Information

Publisher: Blue Dot Kids Press
Pub date: 2025-04-01
Length: 40 pages

The Allstora Membership

Membership Perks:

  • Save 30% on all online store purchases
  • Exclusive access to author's content
  • You pay less, but authors still earn double

Membership Terms:

First Month: $0.00
Monthly price: $5.00
  • To access membership discount simply log in and add to cart, discount applied automatically.
  • One month free trial, cancel anytime. Membership renews on the 15th of each month.