LEMILY BY THE SEA

A lonely, beach-dwelling child gets a friend in this debut picture book.

Lemily, a young White child dressed in leaves and an orange starfish cap, lives all alone on a tropical island. Lemily has many companions, all of whom dwell in the sea, but they’re not ideal pals since they can’t talk. The child prays for a friend, and miraculously a bolt of lightning produces Sebastian, a mixed-race boy the same age who wears a rope and a maroon starfish hat. But he isn’t the buddy Lemily had hoped for. Sebastian has a temper, cheats at games, and can be mean. Luckily, a nanny arrives in the form of Imelda, a purple octopus who takes good care of the children and helps them get along. They now enjoy happy lives as siblings. In his book, prolific poet Charach writes nicely bouncy verse with good read-aloud potential. The rhymes—usually aab ccb—include clever word choices, such as boisterous/oysters. Kids will enjoy the prospect of a sunny play-all-day paradise with no adults barring the omnicompetent octopus caretaker. Catrinella, an experienced children’s book illustrator, provides cheery digital pictures in tropical colors.

A pleasing fantasy with well-wrought verse and attractive images.