The first time I took my baby daughter to the beach, I made sure to pack all the essentials: sunscreen, bug spray, a towel and, oh yes, a book. Yes, she loved to dig in the sand and unearth shells, dead crabs and other “treasures,” but that’s not what I remember most about her first experience with the sun and surf. The beach is where she made her first connection with words and reading. After pointing to a picture of a child in Busy Beach, she proudly touched the top of her head and announced “har” (which I took to be “hair.”) I think my smile outshone the sun that afternoon; wow, I must be doing something right, I thought to myself. As a new mom, I would take praise whenever I could get it…good lesson to remember these days. Needless to say, that book earned a permanent spot in my beach bag that summer and when I eventually retired the battered copy to her bookshelf (where it still stands today), I knew I could call upon it at any time to relive that happy moment. While that book has withstood the test of time, I’m sure we would have benefited from the equally apropos Beach Baby, the latest title in the Indestructibles line of baby books. Specially designed to withstand all the activities of an inquisitive baby, this book can be dropped in the sand, smeared with sunscreen and even accidentally splashed…and it won’t get ruined. The simple storyline may tempt your little one to play by shoreline, but without cause for concern. If it gets dirty, just pop it into the dishwasher or sink, and it cleans beautifully. We road-tested our copy of Beach Baby in the bathroom sink and were amazed how it came out looking brand-new. If only the rest of motherhood could be this squeaky-clean!…
In a Nutshell: Living up to the Indestructibles name, Beach Baby really can be a day at the beach. Toss a copy–or two–and add them to your diaper bag and beach bag this summer.