Beach Toys vs. School Supplies

June 1, 2021
Preschool-Grade 1 It's the week before school starts when Ruler, the head of the school supplies, goes down to the shore and taunts his age-old rival Shovel, the leader of the beach toys. Their battle of boasts and jeers leads inevitably to a challenge: a sandcastle contest, with Whistle acting as the official timekeeper and judge. The beach toys are feeling pretty cocky about their lovable, lumpy castle, until they see the professional-level "palace of learning" constructed by their opponents. But wait! Built too near the water, it will soon be washed away. Putting their differences aside, the beach toys all pitch in, helping their former adversaries build a moat to protect their masterpiece. Everyone wins in Ciccotello's tale, in which an impending crisis inspires cooperation and leads to friendship. Kids who enjoy wordplay will relish the many puns and wisecracks within the text ("'We're totally going to deflate them, ' said Beach Ball"). Capturing the conflict's drama as well as its happy resolution, the colorful illustrations create a breezy day-at-the-beach vibe. Fun for reading aloud.

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June 28, 2021
The age-old transition from summer into the school year takes an anthropomorphized turn in Ciccotello’s heavily punny tribute to collaboration and work-life balance. When Ruler’s shadow interrupts Shovel’s sunbathing at the beach, the Big Showdown between rivals—representing learning and fun—is on. Wordplay-centered trash talk takes center stage in the lengthy text as the two teams face off, with decidedly different approaches, in a sandcastle-building contest: “ ‘We’re totally going to deflate them,’ said Beach Ball. ‘Don’t hold your breath,’ said Swim Mask. ‘Maybe they have some skills.’ ” Bright art in pencil and crayon textures details the competition as the two witty crews join forces for what becomes a (slightly begrudging) celebration of individual style, and a fun enterprise all around. Ages 3–6.

August 1, 2021

K-Gr 2-When Shovel and Ruler challenge each other to a sandcastle-building contest, it's a showdown between the fun-loving beach toys and the hardworking school supplies. The beach toys know what to do and how to enjoy doing it, and when time's up, they review their entry with cheerful optimism...until they spot the magnificent "castle of classrooms" Ruler and his pals have constructed. But the school supplies' overconfidence has led them to neglect Rule #1: Don't build too close to the water. As the tide rolls in, the beach toys make a difficult decision: they give their rivals some pro tips, and everyone works together to save the sand school. Bright, primary- and secondary-colored characters with heavy outlines feel exactly right in this tale of putting aside differences in order to get more done and have fun. The illustrations are as humorous as the pun-filled text, and readers will giggle at the specifics of how each object is personified. For example, a tipped-over wheeled backpack with its front panel rolled back is the vehicle in which the school supplies arrive. Ciccotello cleverly emphasizes the beach toys' play-all-day natures by setting some of their scenes against the distant silhouette of an amusement park. Lightly couched as summer fun versus school-year industriousness, the ending suggests that something in between the two is best. VERDICT This book is loads of fun in the "x versus y" genre and a great selection for back-to-school displays.-Rachel Owens, O'Neal Library, Birmingham, AL

Copyright 2021 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 1, 2021
An end-of-summer standoff between seasonal accoutrements (sans humans) highlights the tough transition from summer vacation to the start of school. A toy shovel is looking especially relaxed on the beach when Ruler shows up, casting a shadow over the scene. The two rivals begin aggravating each other, in text that bursts with groan-worthy puns: "'You school supplies are all the same,' Shovel said, getting a dig in. 'Work, work, work! When do you have any fun?'" Their taunts escalate to a challenge -- a sand castle-building contest. Beach Ball, Swim Mask, and Bucket as well as Scissors, Pencil, Index Card, and others arrive and join sides. (Whistle referees.) A bright beachy setting, with the silhouette of an amusement park in the background, provides the perfect backdrop for the colorful assortment of personified tools, toys, and accessories, their expressive eyes heightening the story's humor and drama. Just when it looks like the school supplies will declare victory, a tidal setback threatens their sand "palace of learning." An act of generosity by the beach toys leads to a new connection between education and fun -- and a joint end-of-summer beach party. While unlikely to diffuse any human resistance to a new school year, the silly seaside story, with its jaunty cartoon art, will help readers recall the joys of summer well into the fall. Julie Roach

(Copyright 2021 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

July 1, 2021
An end-of-summer standoff between seasonal accoutrements (sans humans) highlights the tough transition from summer vacation to the start of school. A toy shovel is looking especially relaxed on the beach when Ruler shows up, casting a shadow over the scene. The two rivals begin aggravating each other, in text that bursts with groan-worthy puns: "'You school supplies are all the same,' Shovel said, getting a dig in. 'Work, work, work! When do you have any fun?'" Their taunts escalate to a challenge -- a sand castle-building contest. Beach Ball, Swim Mask, and Bucket as well as Scissors, Pencil, Index Card, and others arrive and join sides. (Whistle referees.) A bright beachy setting, with the silhouette of an amusement park in the background, provides the perfect backdrop for the colorful assortment of personified tools, toys, and accessories, their expressive eyes heightening the story's humor and drama. Just when it looks like the school supplies will declare victory, a tidal setback threatens their sand "palace of learning." An act of generosity by the beach toys leads to a new connection between education and fun -- and a joint end-of-summer beach party. While unlikely to diffuse any human resistance to a new school year, the silly seaside story, with its jaunty cartoon art, will help readers recall the joys of summer well into the fall.

(Copyright 2021 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)