Hello, Ocean!

      (June, 2026)

A day at the beach is full of celebration, helping out, and discovery in this energetic and beautiful new book.

hello, sand. hello, toes. hello, ocean.
hello, hello, hello!

In this glowing portrait of beachtime joy, a girl greets all that she encounters— razor clams and sand dollars, the splish and splash of water, logs and dune grass and . . . uh-oh, garbage too. When she discovers a knotted pile of debris, she and her parents work to get it cleaned up, then go on with their busy, happy day at the shore.

“Say hello to your new favorite beachside read.”
-Kirkus Reviews

“A deceptively simple story that blends family and the impact of ocean conservation.”
-Booklist

Luyken’s illustrations are loose and expressive, with brayer-applied ink layers and sponge-stippled textures that paint the breezy bliss of seaside exploration while emphasizing environmental awareness. …will encourage viewers to pause and reflect on their small impactful actions to help protect the environment. Share this with young beach wanderers who are learning how to preserve the beauty of the shores.”
-The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

“A joyful beach-day picture book that celebrates the wonders of the shore while gently introducing young readers to the responsibility of caring for it. The real treasure, as the story so beautifully reminds us, is the ocean itself. Pairing the joy of beachcombing with a gentle nudge toward conservation, hello, ocean! begs to be read aloud.”
-The Children’s Book Review (Editor’s Pick)

“Brayers, brushes, plastic netting, sponges, and mono-printing techniques give acrylic gouache, ink, and pencil scenes organic, breezy textures. Amid the limited-palette backdrops, scribbly-looking sketches of the youth’s gleeful antics supply a likable ebullience on every page.”
-Publishers Weekly