Review - Meet Me By the Sea

Meet Me By the Sea
by Taltal Levi
Date: 2021
Publisher: NorthSouth Books
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: NetGalley

When a spunky little girl finds that her parents are too busy to play, she decides to visit her favorite place on her own.

The familiar path lightens her step and her heart. And along the way she discovers a wonderful surprise.

Taltal Levi’s spare text and delicate pastel-hued illustrations celebrate courage, discovery, and the power of family.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

Meet Me By the Sea is a book about running away. While the emotions of the little girl are easy to relate to, I'm not fond of the solution that's presented for her dilemma. I don't think we should be teaching children to run away every time they feel neglected by their parents. (Especially when running away involves camping alone overnight in the woods.)

The illustrations are kind of nice, and I like the addition of the fox (no matter how unrealistic its behaviour might be).

Overall, I'm not thrilled with this one. Yes, children run away sometimes... but the fact that this is a picture book (and therefore aimed at quite young children) makes the message all the more uncomfortable. I think there are better (and safer) ways to convey the messages of "courage" and "discovery".

Thank you to NetGalley and NorthSouth Books for providing a digital ARC.

Premise: 3/5
Meter: n/a
Writing: 4/5
Illustrations: 3/5
Originality: 3/5

Enjoyment: 3/5

Overall: 3.17 out of 5