Children's Books discussion

Happy New Year! Let's start off 2022 by celebrating picture books first published in 2021. These could be books that appear on "notable" lists* or you could focus on those new picture books that you meant to check out last year but didn't. (I know that, personally, I'll get excited about a forthcoming book and add to my to-read list then forget to go back later to see if it ever made it to the library!) Or, use as an opportunity to share about your favorites from last year. The only real criteria is that the picture book was first published in 2021.

(Authors: please note no self-promotion is allowed in these discussion threads.)

Happy reading and here's to a new year of health, happiness and good books! :-)

*For example, this list from School Library Journal:
https://www.slj.com/?detailStory=best...

Here's a GoodReads list mentioning books published in 2021:
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...

I'll be back to post more later this week after the holidays conclude and we get back out to the library.

From the GoodReads list above, I've read several. My favorites (five stars) being Eyes that Kiss in the Corners and A Most Clever Girl: How Jane Austen Discovered Her Voice.

I also really enjoyed (four stars):
The Boy Whose Head Was Filled With Stars: A Story About Edwin Hubble
Classified: The Secret Career of Mary Golda Ross, Cherokee Aerospace Engineer
The Worm Family Has Its Picture Taken
Niki Nakayama: A Chef's Tale in 13 Bites
Kate's Light: Kate Walker at Robbins Reef Lighthouse
The Floating Field: How a Group of Thai Boys Built Their Own Soccer Field

Hair Twins (three stars--I was a bit underwhelmed, but still very glad a book like this is being published)

Also, this is kind of cool. Our local library posted a list of the top circulating children's books for 2021. Did any of yours do the same? I always find it interesting to see what is actually popular with kids vs. what the "notable" lists highlight. Here are the picture books from that list -- note that NONE of them were published in 2021 (most are several years old!):

Mighty Truck: Muddymania! (published 2017)
The Library (published 1995)
Good Morning, Digger (published 2005)
Baby Bear, Baby Bear, What Do You See? (published 2009)
Fancy Nancy: Poet Extraordinaire! (published 2010)
The Pigeon Needs a Bath! (published 2014)
Honk! Splat! Vroom! (published 2018)

I LOVED the Jane Austen book!

I saw The Fearless Flights of Hazel Ying Lee on the new shelf but didn't have time to read it, then it disappeared.

She Caught the Light: Williamina Stevens Fleming: Astronomer is also on the new shelf but I can never find it.

Ok, you asked for it! Here is a list of 2021 picture books (in no particular order) that I very much enjoyed and liked:
Eyes that Kiss in the Corners
Ducks on the Road: A Counting Adventure
The Lost Package
Watercress
Mel Fell
The Rock from the Sky
Wolfboy
A New Day
This Very Tree: A Story of 9/11, Resilience, and Regrowth
What's Inside a Flower?: And Other Questions about Science & Nature
Survivor Tree
A House
Hurricane
How to Help a Pumpkin Grow
Invasion of the Unicorns
Soul Food Sunday
Yes & No
Dear Treefrog
Off to See the Sea
Tomatoes for Neela
Inside Cat
30,000 Stitches: The Inspiring Story of the National 9/11 Flag
Fluffy McWhiskers Cuteness Explosion
Oona
Cat Problems
Bear Wants to Sing
Amos McGee Misses the Bus
Negative Cat
The Froggies Do Not Want to Sleep
I Love You, Baby Burrito
New in Town
Shy Willow
What Would You Do in a Book About You?
Daisy
Have You Ever Seen a Flower?
No Pants!
A Most Clever Girl: How Jane Austen Discovered Her Voice
Our Table
The New Kid Has Fleas

Beverly wrote: "Ok, you asked for it! Here is a list of 2021 picture books (in no particular order) that I very much enjoyed and liked:
Eyes that Kiss in the Corners
[book:Ducks on the Road: A Coun..."

Wow, thanks! That will be fun to peruse :-)

Dear Treefrog 4.5 STARS So beautiful, touching, sensitive. I love how the little treefrog in the yard helps the little girl adjust to her new home, helps her cope with her fears and loneliness, simply by being there. We see the girl's feelings evolve throughout the year, as she begins school (more fear) to finding a classmate with whom she connects--throughout, the treefrog is a source of comfort, wonder, joy. I especially appreciate the section where some kids (who don't end up being a good fit as friends) come over and she doesn't feel comfortable introducing them to the treefrog, yet when she meets the boy in class with whom she has a true connection, she is eager to introduce him to her precious amphibian friend. The poems are lovely and each page has accompanying informational text about treefrogs and back matter has a little more information about how to find them and what we can do to keep their habitat safe. The only reason I'm not giving this five stars is that I do wish there was a bibliography for the non-fiction info, but as it is mostly a fiction book, I am not deducting much for that. The illustrations, while not my typical favorite style, are so immersive and reflective of the heart of each poem that I ended up loving them, too. Highly recommend!

A few of my favorite poems:

To Find You
I must be
a little different
from my
everyday self

As bees whiz
leave tickle
heels sink
into soft dirt

I look
and breathe
and
settle

growing
calmer
steadier
a little less lonely

---------------
There's someone
I want you to meet
Treefrog

Someone
who likes to look

Someone
who doesn't mind waiting

Someone
whose smile
reminds me of yours

Can you please come out and say hello?

Karen wrote: "I hope it's allowed to mention the two picture books I published in 2021:


Hi Karen. Per our group rules, authors are allowed to mention their own works in the specific author folder only. See link below. Thanks!

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Sorry about that! I usually stick to whatever folders are designated for promotion, but wasn't sure that applied to this topic.

Karen wrote: "Sorry about that! I usually stick to whatever folders are designated for promotion, but wasn't sure that applied to this topic."

No problem, sorry for the confusion. I'll make a note in the opening post to make it more clear :-)

I also read Osnat and Her Dove: The True Story of the World's First Female Rabbi which was interesting.

QNPoohBear wrote: "I also read Osnat and Her Dove: The True Story of the World's First Female Rabbi which was interesting."

Oh, yes! I liked that one quite a lot. It was fascinating and beautifully told and illustrated.

More lists :-)

A Roundup of 2021's Best Book Lists for Children and Teens:

https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/b...

Home Is... Really sweet. Gentle and lovely. Nothing new here, but it's presented in a very appealing way and makes for a cozy bedtime read. We especially loved the first and last pages, comparing the same scene in the morning and at night, and seeing what the different animals were doing at different times of the day.

Pangolina WARNING FOR SENSITIVE READERS: This book could be very traumatizing for sensitive young readers. Please preread if you are a parent of a young animal-lover! This book looks adorable, I picked it up because of the cute cover and Jane Goodall's name and, fortunately, I looked through it before sharing it with my children because I know they would have been devastated by it. This book is about animal trafficking and that's a pretty intense subject for a picture book that appears to be aimed at the kindergarten set. The pangolin narrator does have a happy ending, thank goodness, but I don't think it's enough to compensate for the brutal facts shared. Also, at the end there is a call to help pangolins but, really, if this book is marketed to American audiences, most of it doesn't apply: refuse to eat pangolin... report pangolin trafficking.... if you discover an injured pangolin, contact animal rescue -- this is just not something within the power of the average child in the target market for this book, so you are putting a very heavy burden at their feet without giving them any real ways they can help. I really don't know how to rate it, so I won't. I think Jane Goodall has done amazing work and I think the messages of her Jane Goodall Institute and her Roots and Shoots programs are excellent. We must understand in order to care, we must care in order to help ... and every individual matters and can make a difference. These are great messages in the back matter.
The book is not badly written, the back matter is decent, the illustrations are very nice... and I do appreciate that even the person who captures the pangolin to sell is not demonized: "He does not mean to be cruel," the Civet says to the captured pangolin, "He thinks we are things that have no feelings, that we do not know fear or pain. He just needs to make money to feed his children."
I will, in this spoiler, share the brutal details that are in this book and parents can decide if it is a book they feel comfortable sharing with their child. (view spoiler)["The man took us to a place where there were many cages full of animals from the forest. Mostly they lay still and silent, but some were crying. I was so terrified I was pushed into a tiny, bare, and cold cage. 'They are going to kill us and eat us,' said Civet, who was in a cage near mine. 'And they will pull off your scales because they think they make good human medicine.' I cried all night and I could hear the other animals crying too. And the next day, there were screams of pain and there was blood, and the smell of fear was around me. In my heart I cried out for my mother." When the young girl, who befriended the pangolin in the forest, comes running to beg people to stop, she says, "Suppose it was me being sold for someone to eat. Someone would pull off all my fingernails to use for no-good medicine. Please help me save the little pangolin." (hide spoiler)]
I feel gutted and I'm all grown up. This would have given me nightmares and heartache for ages if I'd read it as a child.

Wow. I wonder how your library chose it, as really the advice is not relevant for children in the US. Perhaps they were more interested in the representation of a less famous animal and the threats on it.

It is too bad that picture-books can be for such a variety of ages but are not shelved in categories. I know to be careful of non-fiction, but narratives like this story about pangolins would be shelved in 'easy' or 'picturebooks' in any library I use, and I agree that it's something better for school-age children (at least).

The Smart Cookie by Jory John
This story is a tad more serious than his previous books. In the beginning the Smart Cookie is shy and somewhat self-defeated. Then he learns to try out various activities to find out what he is good at doing and accomplishing. The cartoon illustrations by Pete Oswald are cute and engaging.

I'll have to check that out... I've had mixed reactions to the others I've read from the series... and now I see that I've missed some, so thank you.

Cheryl is busier irl atm. wrote: "Wow. I wonder how your library chose it, as really the advice is not relevant for children in the US. Perhaps they were more interested in the representation of a less famous animal and the threats..."

Yes, it really is strange because it tells the story from the pangolin's perspective, going about its day with it's mother, making friends with other animals, very much like a pre-K type picture book in tone, but then goes to this animal trafficking aspect that is really, IMO, too mature for that age group. I think most older kids who might be ready for the message will find the rest of the presentation to babyish. An odd disconnect.

Beverly wrote: "The Smart Cookie by Jory John
This story is a tad more serious than his previous books. In the beginning the Smart Cookie is shy and somewhat self-defeated. Then he..."

I loved Pete Oswald's illustrations in Hike and have been meaning to check out more of his books. Thanks for this reminder!

Mii maanda ezhi-gkendmaanh / This Is How I Know Mii maanda ezhi-gkendmaanh / This Is How I Know Sweet and gentle. Follows the child and grandmother through the wonders of each season with a focus on appreciation of nature and togetherness. Lovely for the pre-K set. Author is of Anishinaabe descent, illustrator is Ojibwe.

A Voice for the Everglades: Marjory Stoneman Douglas 4.5 STARS This is a lovely book for young readers. It is as much about the everglades as it is about Marjory Stoneman Douglas. I love that this book shows men and women working together for a common goal and common good. Ernest Coe, Marjory's friend, worked with her to propose bills to Congress and try to get the national park established. I also love that many of Marjory's efforts took place when she was in her 80s and beyond (and going blind and deaf, no less!) It's never too late to make a difference! The emphasis on the flora and fauna of the Everglades will appeal to young readers. I loved this story of how a national park was created, not for people's pleasure (there were no beautiful mountains or astonishing geysers or breathtaking waterfalls) but to protect a precious and unique ecosystem.

If I have a criticism it's that there isn't anything in the story proper about Marjory's early life or what led to her interest in Florida and the everglades. To get that, read the other recently published picture book on this same subject, Marjory Saves the Everglades: The Story of Marjory Stoneman Douglas (which is aimed at slightly older readers, IMO).

The back matter is excellent and explains more about the flora and fauna of the Everglades, further biographical info on Marjory, How You Can Help the Everglades! and Selected Sources.

Kathryn wrote: "I loved Pete Oswald's illustrations in Hike and have been meaning to check out more of his books. Thanks for this reminder!..."

Oswald's illustrations for Jory John's books are a bit more cartoonish than they were for Hike.

Beverly wrote: "Oswald's illustrations for Jory John's books are a bit more cartoonish than they were for Hike."

Ah, yes, looking at the cover it does appear so. Well, I may still give it a try. Thanks!

Fred Gets Dressed The kids loved this book. They thought it was hilarious. OMG there's a naked bottom, hahaha, etc. I love that, of all the questions grown-ups might think this book could raise, the question I got from my littlest after we finished the book was, "Mommy, what is lipstick?" LOL ;-) Yeah, he's never seen any in my bathroom ;-) So, I don't think my kids automatically think of a woman = someone who wears a dress and lipstick. I don't think it's quite as common for moms today. Not saying there's anything wrong with a woman wearing dresses and make-up, just sometimes it is interesting to me when books like this focus on dresses or make up = femininity.
Anyway, overall, I agree with most of Betsy Bird's review (though it wasn't a five star book for me--more of a three star): https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
But, while I love that it was all done with a lighthearted, family-togetherness feeling... that the boy didn't get "in trouble" for putting on Mommy's things.. it's non-judgmental (and I assume the book is trying to make a point there) but, I did wonder, should he have been going through his parents' things without asking first? I was a little unclear of his age and whether he should have been aware of boundaries at all?
Anyway, I'm tired and not sure if this is making any sense ;-) If any of you read it, I'll look forward to your impressions.

Kathryn wrote: "Fred Gets Dressed The kids loved this book. They thought it was hilarious. OMG there's a naked bottom, hahaha, etc. I love that, of all the questions grown-ups might think this book..."

This one has escaped the censors so far. Thank you for reading it with your boys and sharing their thoughts on it.

Kathryn wrote: "Fred Gets Dressed The kids loved this book. They thought it was hilarious. OMG there's a naked bottom, hahaha, etc. I love that, of all the questions grown-ups might think this book..."

Most kids will likely want to explore and try out or on their parents’ things on the sly, and this is yet another reason why parents need to make sure that anything that might truly be dangerous is kept out of childrens’ reach at all times.

Your comments make perfect sense to me. I found Fred's story on Libby(Overdrive) and loved it. I think that he's just barely toilet-trained, so, three? A bit young to understand to respect boundaries, but not too young to be told 'next time please ask first.' I think.

I do recall one of my boys loved to be naked, too, but mainly it was because the diaper was uncomfortable, I'm pretty sure, as I think he outgrew the tendency to strip well before preschool.

"Free" is a good word in this book. Free of discomfort, free to have fun with one's family, free to explore gender traditions.

In Europe, children being naked is not a huge deal. We have lots of pictures of us in the garden etc. sans clothing. It was never a big deal until we moved to Canada and our neighbours made a fuss that my then five year old sister was in the backyard in her birthday suit.

Code Breaker, Spy Hunter: How Elizebeth Friedman Changed the Course of Two World Wars

This story has potential to be interesting. I certainly wanted to know more about Elizabeth and her keen mind and her husband, William, also a code breaker, who encouraged her to work. She must have been insanely brilliant because it took me a good 20 minutes to crack the code at the end of the book WITH instructions. The story is told as a flashback beginning with WWII going back to her childhood and then up to the Cold War. It's fairly straightforward and the kind of book a lazy older kid might pick up for a school report or one to use in the classroom or homeschool unit on spies. There are two codes to try cracking in the back. For the life of me I don't understand why the answer is in the beginning.

The illustrations are OK. They're kind of modern art deccoish with people having angular, weird faces. I'm not sure I like this illustrator's style. I do like the incorporation of quotes and codes.

Backmatter includes information on codes and ciphers, crack the code activity, cryptography today, timeline, selected bibliography and notes.

Here are a few more 2021 picture books that I have read today:
Off-Limits by Helen Yoon

This was my favorite of this bunch. This book is a hoot and a holler, hilarious with a hilarious twist ending.
Time for Bed, Old House by Janet Costa Bates

Sweet story of a little boy's first overnight stay at Grandpa's house.
The Electric Slide and Kai by Kelly J. Baptist

The youngest boy in the family tries to learn how to dance, so he can get a dancing nickname from his grandfather.
Bodies Are Cool by Tyler Feder

Emphasizes that all sizes, shapes, colors, abilities, etc. of bodies are cool.
Sato the Rabbit by Yuki Ainoya

Seven very short stories about a child who decides to become a rabbit.
The Day the Rain Moved In by Éleonore Douspis

A strange story in which, without explanation, it begins raining INSIDE a family's house while it is dry and sunny outside.

Beverly wrote: "Here are a few more 2021 picture books that I have read today:
Off-Limits by Helen Yoon

This was my favorite of this bunch. This boo..."

I could definitely use a laugh and will look for that one, thanks! Time for Bed, Old House has been on my radar so I really should get my hands on that, and I love dance so Electric Slide is going on my list, too :-)

Bracelets For Bina's Brothers We’ve read most of this Story Telling Math series. I can’t say as any of them have been particularly memorable for me, there’s nothing really special about the storytelling, but they do serve a purpose and it’s great a series like this exists, teaching basic math concepts through storytelling that also spotlights diversity. This one focuses on the Indian holiday Raksha Bandhan which celebrates the bond between brothers and sisters (also, the author and illustrator are of Indian descent). The math concept explored is patterns. Good for Kindergarten age.

In My MosqueThis excels in many ways. The illustrations are vibrant and and immersive. Both text and illustrations convey the warmth and welcome and sense of home and peace that the children in their mosque experience. It also conveys the diversity among Muslims (as the afterward notes, it is "a diverse and multiethnic religion"). I'm happy to see a picture book like this.

Now, as for the aspect of educating those unfamiliar with mosques and Islam in general, I do feel it falls short in a few ways. First, the mosque (mosques? I think it may be depicting more than one) in the book -- absolutely beautiful with a particular style of architecture and the back matter highlights "many famous and historic mosques throughout the world." At one point, a boy mentions looking up at the high dome in his mosque and feels at home. While there is nothing wrong with this, I couldn't help but feel it is a bit of an incomplete picture of places of worship for Muslims in America. I will speak here only from my (albeit limited) experiences having been close friends with a Muslim when I was in college but at that time there were no mosques (of the type that are depicted in this book, that is, a specially designed building specifically for the purpose) in our area. The place where my friend worshiped on Fridays was a place rented by the local Muslim community in a local strip mall. It was humble and certainly didn't resemble the place in this book on the outside, but it was their community and spiritual center in the area. Similarly, the Islamic center in the city where we live now is not a beautiful ornate mosque as pictured in this book but appears to be a building in typical commercial center. I believe these are still considered mosques? The ones I have seen are, on the sign, called "Muslim Center of [Town]" so I am not sure if there is a separate designation for "mosque" but it has been my understanding that a mosque is simply a public building where Muslims come together to worship and that is a purpose these buildings serve. In any case, if a key purpose for the book is to help Muslims in America be more understood and visible in the non-Muslim community, it would have been nice if the book addressed this since, at least in the areas I have lived, these more common as places for Muslims to come together and worship. If one was only looking for mosques (as depicted in this book) as sign of Muslim presence in the community, one might, unfortunately, miss it.

I also feel it is worth mentioning what an Amazon reviewer noted: "My only complaint is that I wish, since the book emphasizes people of all colors etc in the mosque, that it would have reflected someone Shia praying in one of the illustrations of namaz.
I’m Shia and we don’t clasp our hands when we pray (they hang by our sides)."

Finally, while the glossary was a welcome addition, I would have liked a pronunciation guide, as well. Again, this book seems to be written for those unfamiliar with Islam (the main point is to explain what happens in the mosque and to say that mosques are welcoming, the final line is "You are welcome in my mosque") since most of the target audience will be unfamiliar with Arabic, too. Of course, one could look up pronunciations online, but I always like it when it's part of the book.

So, overall, many strengths to this book and I do recommend it, with the caveat that perhaps one could google their local area mosques to show a more complete picture of the places Muslims worship in different parts of the world.

Cheryl is busier irl atm. wrote: "Your comments make perfect sense to me. I found Fred's story on Libby(Overdrive) and loved it. I think that he's just barely toilet-trained, so, three? A bit young to understand to respect boundari..."

Thanks so much, I really appreciate your perspective! I think you're right about the age, that makes sense. I like your emphasis on the word "free" for this book, that is perfect.

QNPoohBear wrote: "This one has escaped the censors so far. Thank you for reading it with your boys and sharing their thoughts on i."

Yes, fortunately Fred Gets Dressed has escaped the censors so far, and I hope it stays that way. I know many parents have posted comments where they feel this is trying to indoctrinate a child into a certain worldview or something so I could imagine there might be a push to have it banned. But, I honestly didn't see it as anything other than a "slice of life" moment in which a very young child has fun exploring and experimenting with his parents clothing etc., just as a young child explores and experiments with so many other things in life. If a family wants to bring more to it, certainly it is open for that. Peter Brown is a big name in picture books, so I'm hoping it will stick around even if there is a bit of pushback.

And, Gundula, totally agree re: how nudity is seen as such a negative in American childrens books. One of my favorite books when I was a child was Staying at Sam's and it showed how families have different comfort zones or openness about certain things (such as nudity) but it felt very non-judgmental.

Kathryn wrote: "QNPoohBear wrote: "This one has escaped the censors so far. Thank you for reading it with your boys and sharing their thoughts on i."

Yes, fortunately Fred Gets Dressed has escaped..."

I remember being aghast that some people actually wanted to ban The Philharmonic Gets Dressed just because there were scenes of adults showing and putting on clothing.

Kathryn wrote: "Bracelets For Bina's Brothers We’ve read most of this Story Telling Math series. I can’t say as any of them have been particularly memorable for me, there’s nothing really special a..."

We also just read another in this series, Look, Grandma! Ni, Elisi! focusing on the Cherokee National Holiday celebration and the math concept of volume. Really enjoyed it.

Manybooks wrote: "some people actually wanted to ban The Philharmonic Gets Dressed just because there were scenes of adults showing and putting on clothing.."

Oh good golly gosh, seriously!? I remember loving that book as a kid, it was even on Reading Rainbow!

Kathryn wrote: "Manybooks wrote: "some people actually wanted to ban The Philharmonic Gets Dressed just because there were scenes of adults showing and putting on clothing.."

Oh good golly gosh, seriously!? I rem..."

There were some absolutely ranting reviews on Amazon.

Maurice Senak had to draw a diaper on Mickey In the Night Kitchen because the Puritans complained the boy was naked. My siblings and I read that book SO many times and didn't even notice. Where's Waldo? has also been challenged because of one scene where he's at a topless beach? It's hard to see with the crowded scene. I had to really hunt for it when I read about the challenge.

QNPoohBear wrote: "Maurice Senak had to draw a diaper on Mickey In the Night Kitchen because the Puritans complained the boy was naked. My siblings and I read that book SO many times and didn't even noti..."

There were even some morons wanting to ban Goodnight Moon because the rabbit’s doll is naked, just so silly. Must say though that with the current “censorship rules” attitude being so prominent in certain US states, I sometimes fear that pointing out why books should not be censored or banned might put them on the banners’, on the haters’ list.

QNPoohBear wrote: "Maurice Senak had to draw a diaper on Mickey In the Night Kitchen because the Puritans complained the boy was naked. My siblings and I read that book SO many times and didn't even noti..."

Oh my goodness. I loved that book when I was a kid. I had it memorized.

(The fuss about the Where's Waldo scene baffles me, though. Are there some who view men being topless at the beach as inappropriate? Even in American culture, I thought that trunks-only was pretty standard swimming attire!)

Manybooks wrote: "I sometimes fear that pointing out why books should not be censored or banned might put them on the banners’, on the haters’ list.."

That's a good point, and I'm thinking carefully about how to write my review for Fred Gets Dressed.

Kathryn wrote: "(The fuss about the Where's Waldo scene baffles me, though. Are there some who view men being topless at the beach as inappropriate? Even in American culture, I thought that trunks-only was pretty standard swimming attire!)
."

It's not a topless man, it's a topless woman and the people that spotted that had to REALLY hunt for something to object to.

I want to recommend a picture book that I just reviewed titled
I love you, grandma & grandpa by Angela Panayotopulos. A lovely book about unconditional love between grandparents and grandchildren, which we all can relate to!

QNPoohBear wrote: "Kathryn wrote: "(The fuss about the Where's Waldo scene baffles me, though. Are there some who view men being topless at the beach as inappropriate? Even in American culture, I thought that trunks-..."

Oh, whoops! Thanks for clarifying. (I misread your post and thought people were objecting to Waldo himself being topless at a beach!)

Ann wrote: "I want to recommend a picture book that I just reviewed titled
I love you, grandma & grandpa by Angela Panayotopulos. A lovely book about unconditional love between grandparents and grandchildren,..."

I Love You, Grandma and Grandpa! for the link.

Where's nudity? (You can't see anything -not a detailed picture, just a picture of the page)
https://postimg.cc/FkzfLn13

QNPoohBear wrote: "Where's nudity? (You can't see anything -not a detailed picture, just a picture of the page)
https://postimg.cc/FkzfLn13"

IF i remember correctly, I believe there was one woman on the beach with fried eggs strategically placed on her chest.