Sandcastles Are Forever by Ellie Peterson is a touching picture book that delves into the themes of friendship, change, and resilience.
Synopsis
For Cora and her best friend, Shelly, every day is a beach day.
When they get home from school, the girls shimmy into their swimsuits, grab their beach bags and buckets, and race to the water. Then their sandcastle-building ritual begins!
But one day Shelly announces she’ll soon be moving to the city, and suddenly Cora doesn’t feel like building sandcastles anymore. What’s the point when they’ll just wash away?
With gentle, heartfelt prose, author-illustrator Ellie Peterson explores the difficult feelings of loss and sadness that come when a friend moves away. Young readers will see that with the right tools—and a willingness to build again tomorrow—who’s to say the things you love can’t last forever?
#MelAndNikkiReview
Sandcastles Are Forever by Ellie Peterson is a touching picture book that delves into the themes of friendship, change, and resilience. Through the story of Cora and Shelly, two best friends who share a love for building sandcastles, Peterson explores the emotional journey of coping with separation.
The narrative is beautifully crafted, with gentle prose that captures the essence of childhood friendships. The sandcastle metaphor is used effectively throughout the book to illustrate that, like sandcastles, friendships may need to be rebuilt over time, but with the right tools—patience, humor, and effort—they can endure.
Peterson’s digital illustrations are vibrant and lively, adding depth to the story and bringing the characters’ emotions to the forefront. The depiction of the elaborate sandcastles will surely captivate young readers, while the diverse representation in the characters’ backgrounds is a thoughtful touch.
In Closing
At its core, Sandcastles Are Forever is a reassuring tale for children facing the prospect of a friend moving away. It teaches that distance doesn’t have to mean the end of a friendship; it can be an opportunity to learn new ways of connecting and maintaining bonds.
To purchase a copy of this beautiful book, click here.
About the Author
Ellie Peterson is a picture book author, illustrator, and former educator living in the Seattle area. She is the author/illustrator of It’s A Round, Round World and The Reason for the Seasons. She was also the illustrator for Bea’s Bees by Katherine Pryor. Her work is inspired by her experiences teaching STEM, her upbringing as a biracial child in a military family, and her adventures in parenting.
Until next time…Happy Parenting!
~ Momma Braga
*Please note that this book was provided in exchange of an honest review. All opinions expressed are our own.
