My Dear Sea

Ages 3 to 7

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.