Allen & Unwin
October 2026
ISBN:9781761181412
Publisher:A&U Children’s
Imprint:A & U Children
This is a book that has set a new standard for accessible reading for younger children and is a complete innovation as well with it being tailored to kiddos with diverse needs.
We’ve had books with tactile features and sounds and we’ve had some with Auslan and audio links but this one has it all. All three creators have personal interest in disability support and with Nas being blind and Sophie being hearing impaired also have lived experience of the limitations that some books and media have.
A visually impaired child will be able to feel the textures on the pages, and hear the story read. They will be able to turn pages by themselves as they find the rounded corners. They can access a Braille version via the link provided and sign language interpreted/audio versions.
The rhyming text is simple enough in itself describing summer and a day at the beach but these added features will make this a wonderful experience for those readers in need of some assistance to enjoy it fully, as well as still being a fun read for children with no special needs.
I have previously mentioned the benefits of taking kiddos to a sensory unit if you possibly can or even creating a version for your classroom if that’s not doable. It has always been important for us to empower children to be more empathetic and inclusive but arguably these are qualities even more necessary as the world around us is in turmoil.
Not only do I congratulate the three creators on this wonderful work but I applaud Allen and Unwin for their faith in providing us with a book that is unique – and I would truly hope, not the last of its kind. It’s a 5 ☀️👀👂🫳🏖️ rating for Smalls from toddler up to around Year 2.
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