The Seashore

A sand lizard tucked into the dunes, a scatter of shells, a crab sidling across wet rock: Peter D. Riley lays out the seashore like the contents of a curiosity box, inviting young children to pick up each find, look closely and wonder why nature made it that way. Moving through the different habitats along the coast, he introduces the plants, animals and objects to be found there, from crustaceans to seabirds.

Full-colour photographs sit alongside illustrations, giving plenty of detail without ever feeling like a lesson, though there is real science on every page. Written for children at Key Stage 1, it gently encourages thinking and reasoning as well as noticing. A lovely one to pack before a trip to the beach, for small collectors who come home with their pockets full.