Splash by Kallie George, illustrated by Genevieve Cote

[Originally reviewed in 2017.]

It's been a while since I've reviewed or mentioned George's Tiny Tails series. Only three titles were written for the series and while they were very popular when I used them in book club I took a break before introducing them to a new group of readers. I last reviewed Flare in 2014 and didn't realize that I'd never reviewed - or even read - the last book, Splash! However, I think it's been long enough that I can use them in book club again so I decided to enjoy the last title.

Splash is a little sea serpent with a not-so-little problem; no matter how hard she tries, she just can't keep her tail from, well, splashing! Her wise old grandfather, Grampy, tries to teach her the ways of sea serpent swimming, from looking like a shadow to being still as a log, but no matter how hard Splash tries, her tail just won't cooperate. When a boat comes along and the sea serpents are in danger, will Splash's splash give them away?

This sweet little story teaches a lesson about self-control in a gentle way. When it really matters, Splash's practice in keeping still, even if it didn't work so well earlier, pays off and she is able to stay hidden. But her family is also lovingly supportive of her splashy ways, and Grampy shows her a safe place where she can splash to her heart's content.

Cote's illustrations really make this series - this book is done in shades of green and blue, just right for a sweet little sea serpent. Splashy blue watercolors show the foam and droplets tossed up by Splash's eager little tail and she bunches and tumbles across the ocean and the page just like an eager little toddler.

We include these titles in our upper level easy readers; the text is bold and a larger font but more complex and includes more vocabulary than a typical easy reader. I would put these with other beginning chapter/easy reader blends like the Branches titles, Poppy the Pirate Dog, Bramble and Maggie, and King and Kayla.

Verdict: It's too bad George didn't write any more of these sweet tales - it's not often I find fantasy at this low a level and the cute pictures and sweet story are very appealing to many beginning readers. Recommended.

ISBN: 9781927018774; Published 2015 by Simply Read; Purchased for the library