Sea Glass Summer

AUTHOR: Michelle Houts
ILLUSTRATOR: Bagram Ibatoulline

From the Publisher:

Author Michelle Houts and illustrator Bagram Ibatoulline explore the magic of one of the seaside’s greatest wonders and the bonds that link us through time.

One summer, a boy named Thomas visits his grandmother at her seaside cottage. She gives him a magnifying glass that once belonged to his grandfather, and with it Thomas explores the beach, turning grains of sand into rocks and dark clamshells into swirling mazes of black, gray, and white. When his grandmother shows him a piece of sea glass, Thomas is transfixed. That night he dreams of an old shipyard and the breaking of a bottle. Could the very piece of sea glass on his nightstand have come from that bottle? For the rest of the summer, he searches for more sea glass and hopes to have dreams that will reveal more of the sea’s secrets. A stunning ode to stories and the seaside, this picture book invites readers to imagine the ocean of possibility that lives in every small or forgotten treasure.

Leah’s Thoughts:

This one feels nostalgic in the best way. The story is simple, but it sparks so many great conversations about memories, the passage of time, and how small things (like a piece of sea glass) can hold so much meaning. The illustrations are soft and detailed, and it’s a perfect choice for quiet summer afternoons.