Splash, Splashing by Rita Esposito
Get ready for a day of summer fun in Rita Esposito’s Splash, Splashing, part of the Aki and Uri’s Adventures series! This pair of four-legged, tail-wagging brothers are here to enjoy all the sensory experiences the beach has to offer. With the sand and surf beneath their paws and the sun shining off their coats, they invite readers both young and old to partake in their fun day.
Fun In the Sun
Armed with their floatie tubes, flippers and sand buckets, Aki and Uri set off in the early morning and head for the beach. The sights and sounds of nature soon tell them they’ve reached their destination:
Hear, hearing a roaring sound,
perk, perking their ears,
turn, turning to the right, to the left, up and down,
they see big blue waves crashing all around.
As they run along the beach, the pair come across some other animals. First, there are the rascally seagulls who Aki and Uri chase away after the flock pulls at the dogs’ tails. But then the brothers come across a far friendlier bunch — a pod of dolphins who are happy to give Aki and Uri a ride!
Once they break the surf, the brothers stop for an afternoon lunch before exploring the shallow pools amongst the slippery rocks. “Bathers disappear,” describes the prose, “the wind slows down, and the sea ebbs in the background.” Aki and Uri watch the sun set on the water, then go home to their soft beds, resting “like seagulls in their nest.”
Making Happy Memories
Newly released, Splash, Splashing has come at the perfect time for the summer season. This delightful read spans a full day at the beach, providing young readers with an excellent example of morning, afternoon and evening activities for this time of year. But that’s not the only lesson Splash, Splashing provides — by giving examples of how the brothers interact with the seagulls and the dolphins, readers can see how to set boundaries with unfriendly playmates and enjoy time with those who play fair.
Aki and Uri also aren’t afraid to get out of their comfort zones, from going on an impromptu ride with the dolphin pod to poking at the starfish and octopus in the shallow pools. These examples of inter-species friendship and open-mindedness to exploration give Aki and Uri the opportunity to make these incredible memories — ones readers can hope to make, too, if they follow in the brothers’ pawprints.
With beautiful watercolor illustrations and prose that begs to be read aloud, Splash, Splashing is a perfect book for storytime. This read will make little ones feel as though they’ve taken a trip to the beach right alongside Aki and Uri. And more adventures are to come, as Aki and Uri have a read for every season! You can find out more (and see photos of the real Aki and Uri!) at akiandurisadventures.com.
About the Author:
Rita holds an MFA at the Academy of Art University of San Francisco. She loves dogs, reading, writing, painting, and also walking in nature and listening to music. Check out akiandurisadventures.com to learn more.
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