© 2022 Tapioca Stories 55 Gerard St. #455, Huntington, New York 11743 www.tapiocastories.com
Translation from the Spanish by Kit Maude First English language edition published in 2022 by Tapioca Stories. English language edition © 2022 Tapioca Stories Originally published as La Plage © 2017, Editions l’Agrume This edition was published by arrangement with The Picture Book Agency, France. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the prior written permission of the publisher. Library of Congress Control Number: 2021945251 ISBN: 978-1-7347839-4-0
Printed in China First Printing, 2022
Five in the morning. Just as the sun begins to peek over the horizon, the first to set foot on the beach are the fishermen and women.
By six, the sun is beaming down and the fishing boats are out on the water, waiting for the fish to come.
At eight o’clock, the fishermen and women head back to the beach with their catch.
Nine o’clock and it’s time to get your feet wet!
At ten, the beach is packed, but not with bathers or towels: it’s full of pesky seagulls. The same cry rings out every morning: “Two fish for the price of one!”
The dogs are thrilled with their leftovers. The market is closing and bathers are arriving, looking forward to the sun and the cool waves. Everyone remembers their towel.
By eleven, the sun has warmed up the sand and it’s time for a swim.
At noon, the beach smells of fruit, popsicles, and sandwiches, as well as sun and seawater. Don’t forget your bottle of water, it’s very important!
It’s two in the afternoon and the sun is blazing. Bathers rush into the water to cool off, but are careful not to get sunburned.
At a quarter to four, every inch of the beach is occupied, not a single grain of sand is left free!
As the sun starts to go down, a breeze sweeps over the beach. It’s almost eight at night!
At nine-thirty, the sun dips under water to tuck itself in for the night.
On the stroke of midnight, night owls enjoy the beach. Tomorrow will be another day of sun, sea, and sand.
A da y at t he b each , from
dawn to du sk …