The friendship of Dog, Cat, and Mouse is challenged when a stranger visits their beach house. The stranger brings attention to the odd way each character does things: Dog tending to a garden of bones, Cat taking cat naps during this cleaning time, and Mouse always cooking fondue. A quite night at dinner turns into a fight of blame and ridicule. An accident brings the three friends back together."Three by the Sea" is appropriate for ages 5+ (Grades K+). This book is a very thought-provoking story of friendship. The trio lives in a shack by the sea until a stranger rallys up their friendship and starts an argument. The characters in this book are very likable. The illustrations are a mix of collage, and graphics and give many pages a scrapbook appeal. There are a lot of details in this book that will keep young readers engaged and satisfied. I enjoyed this book but I was confused by some of the content. After finishing the book I was confused as to what the stranger's motivation was. Why did he stop? Why did he leave? What was in it for him? I I'm still thinking about this beautiful picture book. I've been trying to understand the message, author intent, and although I loved the book, I'm not there yet. I did love the point on friendship and how you grow in friendship so that you're not pigeonholed into one life but blossom together with the help of friendships... My son on the other hand was quite certain that something had to be happening in regards to the food chain since there was a dog, cat, and mouse all living together getting along. He didn't think that would last long at the beginning of the story. (I love when he predicts what will happen.)
Do You like book Three By The Sea. Mini Grey (2011)?
Fantastic! Love the characters, the story, the moral, the illustrations..and The Argument!
—Abduhamid
A true 'make you think' picture book.
—GothicLover123
