Looking for a vacation, but are staying local? Try one of the following picture books about the beach! As of this writing, all of these titles are owned by the Davenport Public Library. Descriptions are provided by the publishers.

Bad Kitty goes to the beach written and illustrated by Nick Bruel

IT’S BEACH DAY!

But Kitty does NOT want to go to the beach.

Kitty can think of a million other places she would rather be…her bed, the couch, the chair.

Anything other than the terrible, awful beach.

But wait!

What is that? White and gray feathers, an orange beak…something looks TASTY.

Maybe the beach won’t be so bad after all! – Roaring Book Press

The beach day : three-and-a-half stories by Ame Dyckman & [illustrated by] Mark Teague

When warm weather hits, Bat, Cat, and Rat decide to head to the beach. But bus ride mishaps, hungry seagulls, and a missing kite threaten to take the fun out of the trio’s seaside afternoon.

In “Sweating,” a hot day inspires the roommates to hit the beach, until a missed bus stalls their plans.

In “Snacking,” Bat wants to share his snacks with everyone—seagulls included. But the gulls might be a little too hungry!

In “Flying,” when Rat’s kite goes missing, Bat puts his aerodynamic skills to good use to save the day.

Bat, Cat, and Rat’s irresistible friendship and amusing antics are sure to have kids laughing along. – Beach Lane Books

Big family beach day by written and illustrated by Nina Crews

Every summer, Maya goes to the beach with her mom, grandma, aunts, uncles, and cousins. There are a lot of them. It’s a big family beach day! Full of sand, sun, splashing, sandwiches, swimming, and (of course) sunblock, Maya loves every moment of it.

Inspired by her own childhood and extended family reunions, Big Family Beach Day is Nina Crews’s celebration of summertime fun, friendship, family, and love. With her rich, vibrant art and accessible, read-aloud text, Nina Crews captures the joys of a memorable summer day with family. – Greenwillow Books

Have a good trip, Mousse! by Claire Lebourg, translated by Sophie Lewis

Mousse wakes up to a clap of thunder and pouring rain. When he goes out to the beach to collect the day’s treasures, he doesn’t find anything—or anyone. Where has everyone gone? “They’ve all gone south,” a sea creature calls out.

So Mousse heads south. Surrounded by velvety sand and colorful shells, he invites his friend Barnacle to join him. They relax on the beach, take a mud bath and a dip. Everything about the trip is going as planned, until Felix starts tagging along… – Transit Children’s Editions

Just one wave by written and illustrated by Travis Jonker

It’s the perfect day to go to the beach. The sun is shining, the sand is warm, and the water is . . . completely still?

Liam is determined to catch a wave, no matter what. He tries waiting patiently . . . no luck. He asks the seagulls for help . . . they are no help. He even tries tempting a wave with his beautiful sandcastle, but the water refuses to budge.

Nothing seems to work. Until, in a sudden moment of inspiration, Liam realizes if he can’t find a wave, he’ll just have to make one himself.

From librarian and picture-book creator Travis Jonker comes this companion to the beloved Just One Flake—another hilarious and satisfying story all about the magic and creativity of outdoor play. – Abrams Books for Young Readers

Mouse by the sea : a vacation in nature by Alice Melvin ; text by William Snow

Join Mouse on his summer vacation by the seaside. Each day brings new excitement, from sandcastles on the beach to ice cream on the promenade, sunbathing on the sand dunes to looking for treasures among the rock pools! Intricate illustrations and interactive flaps reveal many plants and animals young readers can identify, and the atmospheric rhyming text sets the scene for this perfect summer vacation.

When we last saw him, Mouse was journeying along the river to visit a friend who lived by the sea. This summer, he’s come back to wander along the coastal path and discover all the seaside has to offer.

Mouse by the Sea features interactive flaps and gatefolds throughout, which draw the reader’s attention to hidden details and convey the ebb and flow of the tide. As Mouse makes his way along the coast and ventures out on a boat trip, he encounters lots of local wildlife, including seals and dolphins, diving gannets, and nesting puffins. The back of the book features a nature guide packed with fascinating facts about the different habitats and wildlife that Mouse encounters. – Thames & Hudson

Rock  story by Laurel Croza ; pictures by Matt James.

When a seagull mistakes a small rock for food, it angrily spits it out. “What do you think you are?” the seagull demands. “I am a rock,” the rock responds. But the seagull refuses to accept this, insisting that the rock is more like a pebble, or a stone. It predicts that the rock will be thrown into the water and sink, and even if it manages to be washed ashore, the same thing will happen again and again, until the rock is worn down to a mere speck. After all, the rock has no shine, color, crystals or speckles … In short, it is nothing special.

But a child enjoying a day at the beach sees the rock differently, and their creation in the sand affirms what the rock has known about itself all along.

A quirky, vibrant and very memorable picture book about staying true to yourself. – Groundwood Books Ltd

Sand cakes written by Kallie George and illustrated by Devon Holzwarth

Come out for a day at the beach bakeshop with a creative little baker and her sweet, sandy treats in this adorable preschool picture book.

Sand cake, Sun cake, Sprinkle-topped with rocks cake. Will you eat what I baked?

A fun day at the beach means making some sweet treats to share with everyone! The main ingredient? Sand of course!

No matter how yummy her rock-sprinkled cakes, seaweed pies and sea foam cream puffs look, this little beachside baker can’t seem to get ANYONE to eat her sandy sweets. Even the seagulls turn their beaks up! Will she ever find a customer willing to give them a try?

Buoyantly poetic, this funny and sweet picture book from author Kallie George, featuring endearing illustrations from Devon Holzwarth, is a read-aloud treat for readers of all ages. – Tundra Books

Sloth & Squirrel on vacation written by Cathy Ballou Mealey ; illustrated by Kelly Collier

When a speedy squirrel and a slow-moving sloth discover they want different things from their vacation, things do not go smoothly, but solving problems together is what counts.

Finding a destination that best friends Sloth and Squirrel can agree on for their vacation is tough, until they learn that Paradise Park has “Something for Everyone!” Perfect! While Sloth happily lazes on the sand, Squirrel enjoys rock climbing, kayaking, paragliding, ziplining … until he starts to miss Sloth, and heads back to find him. Meanwhile, Sloth, finished with his nap, is missing Squirrel, and begins searching for him – in all the places Squirrel has just been! Will the friends ever have fun together?

Young readers will appreciate how the two lovable, mismatched friends always find a way to work things out. This endearing story makes a funny and engaging read-aloud, offering lessons on caring for others and being adaptable. – Kids Can Press

Vampire vs. the beach by Todd Tarpley ; illustrated by Giovanni Abeille

A vampire and his monster friends are excited to have some fun in the sun—but they’re thwarted by beachgoers who insist that Halloween belongs in the fall! The spooky friends do their best to turn everyone’s summer festivities into a monster mash, but the feuding between fans of Halloween and fans of summertime soon reaches a boiling point. Can the groups find a way to have double the fun? A Summerween party might be the perfect solution! – Little, Brown Books for Young Readers