Picture Book Month - a celebration of some picture book gems
The Sea-Breeze Hotel was first published in 1991 and so it has been long out of print which is sad because this book is a true picture book gem. The story and illustrations (by the amazing Patrica Mullins) are simply a joyous celebration of a community coming together through the magic of kite flying.
The Sea-Breeze hotel is empty. No one comes to stay on the cliff overlooking Blow-me-Down Bay. With no guests the hotel may have to close. This is a huge problem for Sam, who lives with his Grandad Henry - the hotel handyman along with the owner Mrs Pearson and the housekeeper Hilda. Sam has a brilliant idea. He makes a kite. It flies so beautifully that everyone joins in a makes a kite of their own. Hilda makes a butterfly kite, Henry builds a box kite and Sam makes a dragon kite for himself. "People began to notice the four kites circling and soaring in the sky above the Sea-Breeze Hotel." Perhaps the ending is predictable - well you need to read this special picture book to find out.
You can see many of the collage illustrations from this book here.
Are there other books you could link with The Sea-Breeze Hotel?
I would grab hold of The Tiny kite of Eddie Wing by Maxine Trottier. This book is another wonderful celebration of community life and kites too of course. This is also the perfect excuse to find all the kite making books in the library and also to experiment with the tissue paper collage which Patricia Mullins uses in her books.
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