A Beach Tail by Karen Lynn Williams , Floyd Cooper Search Amazon for other books by or about Karen Lynn Williams. Rating: Reviewed by: Bob Walch

When Gregory and his father spend a day at the beach, the little boy's father points to a lion that Gregory draws in the sand. "Don't go in the water, and don't leave Sandy," he says.

Being a curious and resourceful child, Gregory decides to do some exploring. To avoid disobeying his father, the child decides to just "extend" the lion's tail in the sand. Using a stick as a pen, Gregory is off down the beach and Sandy's tail gets longer and longer.

On his short excursion, the child discovers a jellyfish, sand castle, a crab, and a whole lot more along the shoreline. But soon he realizes he can't see his father's blue beach umbrella.

Fortunately, by following Sandy's "extended" tail which hasn't yet been washed away by the incoming tide, Gregory finds his way back to where his dad awaits him.

This picture book deals with a situation that many families can appreciate. When a child wanders away it can be a scary situation for everyone involved. It might be a good idea to use this book to have a discussion about what a child should do in the event this happens.