Such a sweet story about finding the good in something you might not have initially felt like doing. Rowan is a little boy with big feelings. He's tired of going back and forth between Mom's and Dad's- especially all the driving. But this weekend, Dad has a special outing planned for him and Rowan. Rowan is initially hesitant but ultimately finds joy and comfort in the beach and what it has to offer. Paired with lovely illustrations, this is a touching story about navigating a difficult time and finding comfort in unexpected places.

You can absolutely tell that this book was a work of love by both the author and the illustrator. The words and the illustrations help to tell a lovely story.

I appreciate that our main character, Rowan, has big feelings that get shared with the reader and I appreciate that those feelings are validated throughout the story. Change is hard and not being able to stay in one place is difficult and deserves to be talked about for readers who experience this, too. How wonderful to be a young reader who feels the same way as Rowan does; your feelings get validated here, too. And it might bolster readers to be able to talk about their feelings with a loved one, too.

The last few pages about creating with our feelings is a wonderful chance for parents to connect with their little readers through crafts, too.

Rowan hates going between his mom and dad’s houses. His Dad says he is taking him someplace special-the beach. At first Rowan is not sure about the beach-the hot sand, the waves getting his pants wet. Soon he changing his mind. He ends up loving the waves and the wind. Before leaving, his dad buries Rowan in the sand. Rowan feels like the sand/earth are giving him a big hug. He collects things to take home, where he creates a wind chime. It helps him remember his day and his feelings of Home.

This is a sweet book that portrays the struggles of a child of divorced parents. I loved seeing the positive things the Dad does to help Rowan. I like the notes at the end about things to create and feelings. I loved the illustrations too!

I want to start of by saying thank you to the author, publisher, and netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This quite a sweet book about a boy and his divorced parents. It's his dad's turn to take him out and his dad decides to take him to the beach. Rowan (the child) is a little reluctant at first but he eventually warms up to it and doesn't want to leave, thinking that the beach reminds him of home.

The illustrations were very pretty and it for some reason reminds me of We're Going on an Bear Hunt. I don't think the styles are that similar at all, but it still reminds me of that classic. The book also had key takeaway messages, like what home means to someone with divorced parenrs. It can be confusing for kids having to keep going from one parent to another so the idea of 'home' can be skewed.

I really iked the bit about being mindful with nature and 'creative with your feelings' and 'trusting your flow'. But I'm also not entirely sure this is appropriate for the targeted demographic. The book mentions a lot of big ideas that may be a little overwhelming for young kid's. Granted kid's are smarter than we think, but I think there's maybe one too many ideas.

Also they went to the beach and not a single sand castle was built. Instead the child got buried in the sand which I don't this is appropriate. We definitely shouldn't be even hinting at the fact that burying themselves in sand is okay that can be really dangerous especially if parent's aren't around or watching.

My kids enjoyed this book, they love the beach and it started lots of conversations! The illustrations were really nice.

This was such a good read! Overall, the book was well written and I did really enjoy it. Thank you for this advance reading copy!

Sweet post vacation beach read! Also loved that it was about a kid with separated parents. i feel that you never see books like this, but is a reality for many children! loved the art and visuals

A heartwarming tale about the healing power of nature and creativity as a balm for the soul. Young Rowan is troubled by the constant to and fro between his parents who live apart. His dad takes him on a surprise trip to the beach, where he is overwhelmed to begin with, but soon the calming call of the sea waves and the joy of playing in the sand allow him to forget his woes. He wants to capture this freedom and happiness so he can hold on to the joy at home. He collects bits and pieces from the beach and creates a piece of art that mean the beach and that special day with dad are close to him always. A heartwarming read and a good reminder to get into nature and get creative to keep that serenity and joy close. #bringingthebeachhome #lauraatkins #netgalley

A young boy finds comfort in change as he visits the beach for the first time with his dad. Such a tender story about love and helping children navigate transitions.

Bringing the Beach Home is a gentle story about a child named Rowan who finds comfort during life’s changes through nature and creativity. After a special day at the beach with Dad, Rowan crafts a wind chime to bring a little bit of that peace and magic back home. This book is a touching reminder that even during hard transitions, we can hold on to what matters most.

I absolutely loved this! The way they represented a child of divorce and the exhaustion of going back and forth was brilliant. I’m obsessed with the illustrations and the way it ended with the wind chimes was so gorgeous. The writing is beautiful I absolutely loved this so much.

This is such a beautiful story. Rowan has to split his time between his parents and he's feeling out of sorts. His dad helps him feel connected to the world with a day at the beach, and they bring back seashells and pebbles to make their own windchime.
This is a simple story with beautiful pictures, but the message is powerful. In the end, Rowan understands his place in the world and that he's safe and secure even though he doesn't spend all his time with both parents

This book was like a warm hug to my heart. I love the beach, and there was a page which felt like it was reading my mind whenever I’m at the beach. But it also beautifully tells the story of a kid going through life changes (seemingly living with mom and dad separately) and transforming the good vibes of the beach into, in a way, therapy! To top it off, there’s a lesson comparing creativity to the waves. A wonderful wonderful story!

I read this with my 4 year old daughter, and while I appreciated what the author was trying to explore —Rowan recognizing what “home” looks like, especially in the context of divorced parents and a shifting living situation—the storyline felt a bit jumbled and didn’t flow as smoothly as I hoped. My daughter got impatient and bored and I could tell the book was not keeping her attention.

The illustrations are lovely, and the message about finding joy and mindfulness in nature is a thoughtful one. I also liked the inclusion of concepts like “creating with your feelings,” “trusting the flow,” and “use with care,” but it felt like too many big ideas were packed into a short story without a clear theme. There’s a lot going on: divorced parents, big emotions, multiple homes, grounding, mindfulness, creativity, nature, and it never quite settled into a cohesive narrative.

Oh, and I was really uneasy with the scene where Rowan’s dad buries him in the sand with only his head sticking out. While I understand it may have been intended as a playful moment, this is actually a very dangerous activity. Given the tragic incident in Florida last year, where a young girl lost her life due to a sand collapse during the same activity, it’s a detail that gave me pause. Including it in a children’s book risks normalizing something that can be genuinely harmful, and may unintentionally encourage unsafe behavior.

It’s a well-intentioned book with beautiful art and some lovely moments, but it could’ve benefited from a tighter focus and more clarity for younger readers.

Thank you to The Collective Book Studio for an electronic ARC which was provided to me via NetGalley for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

This was a lovely story however, at times felt a little jumbled. Whilst the theme at the start was about his parents and moving backwards and forwards it talks more about creativity and trying new things. I felt it could have touched more on his home rather than finding a new love for the beach.
It was a lovely story about building a new connection with his dad and using his creativity and imagination and spending time together. It was cute to see the wind chime to go visit to mums house and having that piece of his home at both places, however, maybe he could have made two rather then having to pack another thing which was his previous frustration at the beginning of the story.
Overall enjoyed the book and had beautiful illustrations however, the meaning was slightly lost.

This book was such a joyful win with my three year old who just came home from a trip to the beach!

This is a lovely story about a child who, is struggling with going back and forth between his parents in their separate homes, finds joy at the beach. As many children experience this, I’ve not seen many (if any) books even touch on it. This is subtle enough that the story is enjoyable by children with any of the many diverse family makeups as well!

The art work is lovely. We really enjoyed this book.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Showing the need for family connection. This book shows the result of divorce and how a father and child connect afterwards. They show how they can find excitement and connection. The project of crafts shown at the end of the book help families make memorial connections.

This is a very sweet story that follows Rowan as he spends the weekend with his dad. Rowan is hesitant but ultimately enjoys a beach trip with his dad. I really enjoyed the illustrations in this book and the sweet story where the dad meets Rowan where he is and helps him make the most of their time. I really enjoyed this book.

When it's his weekend to stay at his Dad's house, Rowan is told they're going on a trip to the beach. Exhausted from the adjustment of the back and forth, he's not too thrilled. It takes him a while to warm up to the beach altogether; the sand is too hot, and the waves get his pants wet. But with a little patience, he realizes that the beach is a beautiful place that feels like home and sparks his creativity. How will he keep that newfound feeling close even after he leaves?

A charmingly illustrated and heartfelt, relatable story of finding home in all the in-between places.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for providing me with a free eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is such a cute story!
Rowan lives in a split household and is tired of going back and fourth but dad took him on a special trip to the beach that really connected the two of them in a special way.
I would love to read this to my students in the library one day. Many come from split households and I think many would find this book to be so special, showcasing the special bonds they can hold with each parent.

This touching story by Laura Atkins discusses the struggles of moving back and forth to spend time with your parents, adapting to the change every time, and missing your parents when you go back. The story deals with these themes beautifully and gently. As the main character, Rowan leads the story wonderfully and keeps you engaged. I especially loved how he makes choices on his own and invites his Dad to do things with him.

The illustrations by Evgenia Penman are gorgeous, soft, and so soothing to look at! The art had me go back and forth to look at all the details, textures, lovely expressions and beautiful colors. A very pretty book!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.