Author Description

The "Sand...on the Beach" poem utilizes repetition, sensory language and imagery and was written from the perspective of a child. This story is a wonderful teaching text for elementary school children as there are many literacy-based lessons embedded, point-of-view narratives, visualization, illustrations and poetry. For example, teachers can discuss point-of-view and have students develop a story from the perspective of the crab in the sand, create another adventure for the crab, write a continuation of what the crab's life is like in the ocean, or even write a parallel story that introduces a new character. Also, reading the story aloud without showing the illustrations could allow students to work on visualization and create their own drawings for the text. The teacher can also cover the words and have students develop their own narrative or poem to accompany the illustrations. This relatable storybook was created for school-aged children to enjoy and was written by an experienced elementary school teacher for use by elementary teachers. It is intended to be a visual teaching tool for facilitating the introduction of elements of literacy to children in grades 2-4.illustrated story. It presents typical seaside activities often experienced by young children at the beach. The illustrations bring sand to life and create awareness of the wonderful nature of its playfulness, texture and temperature. The author, Natalie Funk, is a veteran elementary school teacher. The illustrator, Sylvia Funk (Natalie's mother) is an artist/designer. The mother-daughter team base the book's story and illustrations on childhood experiences at the beach.