I love the simplicity of this story and the fact that it's so kid-centered. Dad takes Gregory to the beach, where Gregory draws a lion in the sand. "Don't go in the water, and don't leave Sandy," says Dad. Dad snoozes under an umbrella, as Gregory draws Sandy's tail -- a tail that gets longer and longer and longer as Gregory absentmindedly draws his way down the beach and away from Dad. When he finally realizes that Dad is no longer in sight, Gregory follows Sandy's tail and finds his way back. This is a light, fun story, illustrated with sandy looking artwork rendered perfectly by Floyd Cooper. Young readers will love the building suspense as Gregory strays further and further from familiar ground, and they'll revel (secretly) in the joy of being able to stray where they want to, while still being tethered to home.