A Day at the Beach

From two-time Newbery Medal honoree Gary D. Schmidt and two-time PEN Award winner Ron Koertge comes a sun-soaked celebration of childhood that captures the magic of a single summer day by the shore.

Picture this: a stretch of sand where time moves differently. Where the only thing that matters is right now. Kids drift from blanket to blanket, forging instant friendships while parents doze under beach umbrellas. Some brave the waves. Others build elaborate sand kingdoms destined to disappear with the tide. And somehow, in the space between sunrise and sunset, everything changes.

Through a series of brilliantly interwoven vignettes, this moving middle grade novel follows a diverse cast of young people whose lives intersect in surprising and often hilarious ways. One child’s worry becomes another’s moment of courage. A misunderstanding leads to unexpected connection. The beach becomes a place where kids can simply be, away from the endless drumbeat of tomorrow, next week, next year.

Perfect for fans of Look Both Ways and Seedfolks, this masterful collaboration explores the universal experiences of friendship, family, and finding where you belong. Schmidt and Koertge have crafted something special here: a story that feels like the best kind of beach day, warm and welcoming, with just enough salt air to make it real.

Ideal for readers navigating the choppy waters of growing up, this is a book to linger over, like the last perfect hour before the sun sets on summer.

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