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Jules vs. the Ocean
From the creator of Not Quite Narwhal comes a story about a young girl determined to impress her older sister by building elaborate sandcastles, even if that means standing up to the ocean and its smash-happy waves!
Jules is going to build the biggest, the fanciest, and the most excellent sandcastle. Her sister will be so impressed.
But the ocean has other plans.
Jules keeps building bigger, fancier, and more excellent castles, and waves keep smashing them.
And when the ocean takes her bucket, that is the final straw.
Jules is going to take a stand!
From beloved storyteller Jessie Sima comes the tongue-in-cheek story of the sand, the sea, and sisterhood—told with her signature warmth, timeless humor, and delightfully playful illustrations.
Jules is going to build the biggest, the fanciest, and the most excellent sandcastle. Her sister will be so impressed.
But the ocean has other plans.
Jules keeps building bigger, fancier, and more excellent castles, and waves keep smashing them.
And when the ocean takes her bucket, that is the final straw.
Jules is going to take a stand!
From beloved storyteller Jessie Sima comes the tongue-in-cheek story of the sand, the sea, and sisterhood—told with her signature warmth, timeless humor, and delightfully playful illustrations.
48 pages, Hardcover
First published June 16, 2020
3 people are currently reading
226 people want to read
About the author
Jessie Sima
12 books252 followersJessie Sima is an author and illustrator of picture books. They grew up in a small town in southern New Jersey and now write and draw in a creaky house in New York State. When not making books, Jessie can be found reading graphic novels, watching spooky movies, and playing outside with dogs.
Visit them online at jessiesima.com!
Visit them online at jessiesima.com!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 110 reviews
November 22, 2020
While the illustrations are nice, the rest of the book is uninteresting and rather grating. It's basically about a little girl who doesn't learn from her mistakes and has zero critical thinking skills; a child this stupid should not be left on her own at the edge of the water.
Jules keeps building sandcastles right on the edge of the sea, only to have them washed away by the ocean waves. Undeterred, she keeps repeating the same mistake, expecting a different result. Finally, she decides the ocean is out to get her. She loses her bucket, her sister helps her build another castle (again, right at the edge of the water), and the ocean strikes again. Then the girls' mother tells them that the moon is in charge of the ocean... so they decide the moon is out to get them.
I just don't like reading about stupid people, no matter how young they are. It's tiresome. Check this one out for the appealing illustrations if you must... but don't expect a lot from the story.
Jules keeps building sandcastles right on the edge of the sea, only to have them washed away by the ocean waves. Undeterred, she keeps repeating the same mistake, expecting a different result. Finally, she decides the ocean is out to get her. She loses her bucket, her sister helps her build another castle (again, right at the edge of the water), and the ocean strikes again. Then the girls' mother tells them that the moon is in charge of the ocean... so they decide the moon is out to get them.
I just don't like reading about stupid people, no matter how young they are. It's tiresome. Check this one out for the appealing illustrations if you must... but don't expect a lot from the story.
September 10, 2020
Perfect for little perfectionists and anyone facing insurmountable circumstances. A lesson to go with the flow, roll with the tide, enjoy the process, and find joy in the unexpected.
September 3, 2020
Jules wants to build the biggest, fanciest, most excellent castle. She wants to impress her older sister.
But every time she builds a castle, the ocean knocks it down.
Finally, Jules and her sister work together to build a castle, and when the ocean knocks it down, the two celebrate.
But every time she builds a castle, the ocean knocks it down.
Finally, Jules and her sister work together to build a castle, and when the ocean knocks it down, the two celebrate.
August 21, 2020
Cute! I'm a big fan of Not Quite Narwhal and I'm a fan of this one. Jessie Sima is good.
A sweet story of siblings, building castles at the beach, and knowing that we can't control everything. :)
A sweet story of siblings, building castles at the beach, and knowing that we can't control everything. :)
August 31, 2020
Jules is kind of an idiot, sorry
June 10, 2021
My 4 year old really enjoyed this one and likes just paging through it every night because, although the words are funny and effective, it still works very well without needing to read. Funny story about a kid trying to build a great sandcastle but the ocean keeps destroying it - though all the other kids around are having great luck with their castles. She's really trying to impress her big sister with it, and in the end they end up building it together and realizing the splashy sloshy ocean is pretty fun.
Has an engaging comic book style to the illustrations and does some great representations of a diverse family where the kids look different from one another. Agree with another reviewer though that there was an opportunity for a nonbinary protagonist here which wasn't taken, though in name and dress it could have been so I wonder if it was an editor's decision? Anyway fun, light, worth a read.
Has an engaging comic book style to the illustrations and does some great representations of a diverse family where the kids look different from one another. Agree with another reviewer though that there was an opportunity for a nonbinary protagonist here which wasn't taken, though in name and dress it could have been so I wonder if it was an editor's decision? Anyway fun, light, worth a read.
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August 1, 2020Not today, Ocean. Jules and her family are spending a day at the beach and Jules is determined to build the biggest, best sandcastle ever. One problem? The ocean. The ocean keeps sneaking up and washing away her sandcastle! Can Jules figure out a solution and impress her sister with an amazing sandcastle? This is a super cute book that's great for summer and vacation season. It's told with a dry humor that perfectly compliments the humorous moments in the illustrations. Add this to your summer displays and summer reading book lists.
December 31, 2020
Wonderful story about Jules who wants to build a sandcastle to impress her older sister. A must buy as a gift for grandchildren.
April 14, 2021
Jules wants to create the best sandcastle to impress her older sister, but the ocean keeps knocking down her attempts. So her sister comes over and helps. Good art. Positive sister relationship.
February 9, 2020
It was very cute and the illustrations were lovely, but I can't help but compare it to Sima's other work and find that, for me, it just isn't as strong. There was also an opportunity here with a name like "Jules" to have a gender-neutral protagonist and I was disappointed that Sima didn't take that opportunity. (I'm guessing that this story is at least semi-autobiographical and that Jules is Sima's self-insert, but that doesn't negate the fact that the opportunity was there.)
August 20, 2020
I had such a big smile on my face the whole time I was reading this! Oh the snarkiness in the text is great! But there is also such a cute loving relationship between Jules and her sister. Ugh, I just loved it!
November 18, 2020
What a great sister relationship. I miss summer.
November 4, 2020
Anyone who has ever gone to the Ocean, or a Lake, and tried to build a sand castle will commiserate with Jules. Her sister tells her the Ocean is not out to get her, but Jules has trouble believing this—it smashed her castles! It took her bucket!
Looking at the other kids’ wonderfully creative castles, Jules misses one important observation: those kids are not building close to the waters’ edge. Jules’ determination, and her resolve, highlights this wonderful summer picture book.
The illustrations are lively, fun-filled, and humorous (which kids will love). Jules’ sister surfs while Jules fights the Ocean waves. Author Jessie Sima uses the “BIGGEST, FANCIEST, MOST EXCELLENT” onomatopoeia to give life to the Ocean’s waves.
“SLAP! SLOSH! SPLASH!”
“CRASH!”
Teachers interested in adding Jules vs. the Ocean to their young student’s curriculum will love the STEM ending. If you look closely at the illustrations, one spread offers a hint to what this could be. Jules has a great range of emotions, from excited, confident, and determined to despair, hopeless, and defeated.
When Jules sister returns from surfing and finds her little sister without her bucket, she lifts Jules’ spirits. The two sisters build the “BIGGEST, FANCIEST, MOST EXCELLENT” sand castle ever built . . .(Uh-oh! See above!)
The ending seems to suggest there might be another Jules on the way. These two sisters could easily become fan favorites, as together they face a seemingly defiant natural element (with STEM explaining this natural phenomenon; leading to the next story).
Girls will love the relationship the two sisters enjoy. Maybe twin brothers are home with dad, waiting for their turn to impress the teacher—and young male readers.
One can always HOPE!
Looking at the other kids’ wonderfully creative castles, Jules misses one important observation: those kids are not building close to the waters’ edge. Jules’ determination, and her resolve, highlights this wonderful summer picture book.
The illustrations are lively, fun-filled, and humorous (which kids will love). Jules’ sister surfs while Jules fights the Ocean waves. Author Jessie Sima uses the “BIGGEST, FANCIEST, MOST EXCELLENT” onomatopoeia to give life to the Ocean’s waves.
“SLAP! SLOSH! SPLASH!”
“CRASH!”
Teachers interested in adding Jules vs. the Ocean to their young student’s curriculum will love the STEM ending. If you look closely at the illustrations, one spread offers a hint to what this could be. Jules has a great range of emotions, from excited, confident, and determined to despair, hopeless, and defeated.
When Jules sister returns from surfing and finds her little sister without her bucket, she lifts Jules’ spirits. The two sisters build the “BIGGEST, FANCIEST, MOST EXCELLENT” sand castle ever built . . .(Uh-oh! See above!)
The ending seems to suggest there might be another Jules on the way. These two sisters could easily become fan favorites, as together they face a seemingly defiant natural element (with STEM explaining this natural phenomenon; leading to the next story).
Girls will love the relationship the two sisters enjoy. Maybe twin brothers are home with dad, waiting for their turn to impress the teacher—and young male readers.
One can always HOPE!
November 14, 2020
This book has a relatable story that happens when you build sandcastles at the beach--sometimes the sea has something else in mind! In this story, Jules and her family are spending a day at the beach. While Jules' older sister is out on her surfboard, Jules plants herself on the beach to make the most awesome sandcastle ever. Unfortunately, she starts several castles too close to the water’s edge and the ocean comes in and swallows her castle. Discouraged, Jules keeps trying until eventually her castle, and her sand pail, are swept out to sea. Jules enlists the help of her sister and they build the most awesome sandcastle together-- and yes, the ocean comes and swallows that castle as well. This does not bother them because their day has been about defending their sandcastles from the ocean and that is thrilling enough for the both of them.
The author/illustrator of this story created the popular book Not Quite Narwhal so you will see the same whimsical illustrations of coastal life in this book. The ocean has beautiful rainbow colors and Jessie Sima captures the many colors of coastal settings.
This book is perfect for children between the ages of three and five years old. What I did love about this book is that there is a hidden message of trying again despite obstacles and working with someone to accomplish a task--both are wonderful messages for young children to see.
The author/illustrator of this story created the popular book Not Quite Narwhal so you will see the same whimsical illustrations of coastal life in this book. The ocean has beautiful rainbow colors and Jessie Sima captures the many colors of coastal settings.
This book is perfect for children between the ages of three and five years old. What I did love about this book is that there is a hidden message of trying again despite obstacles and working with someone to accomplish a task--both are wonderful messages for young children to see.
June 17, 2020
Determination mixed with tons of sand makes this a cute and inspiring summer read for young beach lovers, who are ready to take on the sea.
Jules is going to impress her older sister. She's going to build the most amazing sandcastle ever. If the ocean would stop messing things up for her with its frustrating waves. Splashes and splats hammer at Jules' enthusiasm until it's her against the ocean. And either might win.
Any one who has tried to build a sand castle as a child will immediately find themselves in Jules' flip-flops. Her desire to impress her older sister...a very pure one...already makes her easy to cheer for. It's hard not to root for her as she gives her best, time and again. And defeat despite best intentions and hard work is something young listeners can relate to. The ending pulls through with a lovely and encouraging message. Plus, there's a tiny jab of humor built in.
Sun and fun radiate from every page and bring beach fun to life in these bright illustrations. Young listeners will wish they could hit the sand themselves and enjoy gazing at each page. The expressive text and font makes it a fun read-aloud, and the wording is very fitting to the age group.
It's a summer read beach fans and sand dreamers are sure to enjoy. I received an ARC, am giving it 4.5 stars, and rounding up.
Jules is going to impress her older sister. She's going to build the most amazing sandcastle ever. If the ocean would stop messing things up for her with its frustrating waves. Splashes and splats hammer at Jules' enthusiasm until it's her against the ocean. And either might win.
Any one who has tried to build a sand castle as a child will immediately find themselves in Jules' flip-flops. Her desire to impress her older sister...a very pure one...already makes her easy to cheer for. It's hard not to root for her as she gives her best, time and again. And defeat despite best intentions and hard work is something young listeners can relate to. The ending pulls through with a lovely and encouraging message. Plus, there's a tiny jab of humor built in.
Sun and fun radiate from every page and bring beach fun to life in these bright illustrations. Young listeners will wish they could hit the sand themselves and enjoy gazing at each page. The expressive text and font makes it a fun read-aloud, and the wording is very fitting to the age group.
It's a summer read beach fans and sand dreamers are sure to enjoy. I received an ARC, am giving it 4.5 stars, and rounding up.
January 9, 2021
Super sweet and charming book about a little girl trying to impress her big sister with a sand castle. After many failed attempts, the girl not only loses her latest creation, but the waves also carry out her needed bucket that she uses to create the castles. Lying prostrate in the sand, the little girl is about to give up when her sister convinces her the ocean is not out to get her and that it really does happen to everyone. So, together they begin to build a great sand castle of their own. After completing it and admiring their creation, the waves once again destroy the castle. But the ocean gives something back in return...the bucket. The girls are so excited about what they accomplished they don't even care that it gets destroyed. As they are leaving the beach for the day their mom explains that the ocean's waves are controlled by many things, including the moon. As the story ends the girls decide next time they hit the beach it will really be the moon they must keep an eye on instead of the ocean. :-)
August 6, 2020
What a great book to read aloud! It is sure to have listeners laughing, clapping, and saying SPLASH CRASH right along with the storyteller!
This book is a delightful day at the beach. Mama's given strict orders on which child can swim in the ocean and which is to stay on the shore. So, little Jules has great plans to get her older sister to not swim but to want to play with her by building a most impressive sand castle! However, the ocean keeps messing up her work. Eventually, big sister feels sorry for little sister and comes to help her build a sand castle. They build a MOST EXCELLENT castle until the ocean...Uh-oh! On the way home they are told by Mama that the moon has a hand in controlling the waves. Now, they realize they must watch the ocean and the moon when they build their next sand castle. Too funny! What a great beginning to a complicated science lesson!
This book is a delightful day at the beach. Mama's given strict orders on which child can swim in the ocean and which is to stay on the shore. So, little Jules has great plans to get her older sister to not swim but to want to play with her by building a most impressive sand castle! However, the ocean keeps messing up her work. Eventually, big sister feels sorry for little sister and comes to help her build a sand castle. They build a MOST EXCELLENT castle until the ocean...Uh-oh! On the way home they are told by Mama that the moon has a hand in controlling the waves. Now, they realize they must watch the ocean and the moon when they build their next sand castle. Too funny! What a great beginning to a complicated science lesson!
June 5, 2021
“Jules is going to make the BIGGEST... FANCIEST... MOST EXCELLENT castle that has ever been built. Her sister will be so impressed!”
But the Ocean has other plans. Splash! Slosh! Slap! Again and again her sandcastle is knocked down by the Ocean until Jules is left feeling pretty defeated. How will she impress her big sister now?
But maybe the Ocean was onto something because her sister comes over and they work on building a sandcastle together until... CRASH!
“That was... MOST EXCELLENT!”
This book is a celebration of summertime and siblings and I love that even though their sandcastle still gets knocked down, the sisters are happy to have shared the experience of building it together.
Click to take a look inside the book.
But the Ocean has other plans. Splash! Slosh! Slap! Again and again her sandcastle is knocked down by the Ocean until Jules is left feeling pretty defeated. How will she impress her big sister now?
But maybe the Ocean was onto something because her sister comes over and they work on building a sandcastle together until... CRASH!
“That was... MOST EXCELLENT!”
This book is a celebration of summertime and siblings and I love that even though their sandcastle still gets knocked down, the sisters are happy to have shared the experience of building it together.
Click to take a look inside the book.
July 18, 2020
Sometimes in life it really does feel like the ocean is out to get you. And if you stop, and look around you, and see how marvelously it seems that others are doing, it is quite easy to feel very downhearted. Why does the ocean never SLOSH them? Thank goodness for big sisters who come to the rescue and who help and who are impressed. Thank goodness that even when the ocean goes CRASH! that things can still be MOST EXCELLENT! (Nod to Bill and Ted.)
After all, it seems like it was the Moon who was in control. Hmm, better keep an eye on the moon. When you finish reading this, also read It It (Not) Perfect by Anna Kang. Both cover the same sort of story line and complement each other.
After all, it seems like it was the Moon who was in control. Hmm, better keep an eye on the moon. When you finish reading this, also read It It (Not) Perfect by Anna Kang. Both cover the same sort of story line and complement each other.
December 29, 2020
A great big sister/little sister story. The little one is building sand castles at the beach, but the waves keep knocking them over. She gives up when her bucket floats away in the tide.
Her big sister comes to help and shows her how to build without a bucket. They build a fabulous castle, but it too is destroyed by a wave.
Together, they decide it was still awesome.
Would be fun to read with Secret Tree Fort, which is also about 2 sisters who eventually play together.
Her big sister comes to help and shows her how to build without a bucket. They build a fabulous castle, but it too is destroyed by a wave.
Together, they decide it was still awesome.
Would be fun to read with Secret Tree Fort, which is also about 2 sisters who eventually play together.
February 24, 2024
This is a cute story about a girl trying to build a sandcastle on the beach one day. The ocean keeps eating her work. I love how it says that Jules had to keep an eye on the Ocean. Very cute.
The artwork is colorful and the ocean is calling. Who can't want to go to the beach after reading this.
This is just about a day of sandcastles at the beach. The last few lines are great too. They are leaving and the mother explains that the moon controls the tides, so next time Jules will have to keep an eye on the moon. Ha.
The artwork is colorful and the ocean is calling. Who can't want to go to the beach after reading this.
This is just about a day of sandcastles at the beach. The last few lines are great too. They are leaving and the mother explains that the moon controls the tides, so next time Jules will have to keep an eye on the moon. Ha.
July 13, 2020
This book takes a simple subject, trying and failing to keep a sand castle build as the water keeps wiping it out. While the author did choose to have words, the sentences are short and often spread over the 2 pages. It easily could have been a wordless book. The color choices are perfect for the water and sunsets. I love the onomatopoeia / superhero word spreads. They made it easy for Skye to retell the story.
September 5, 2020
Is there a book Jessie Sima cannot write?
Adorable story. As far as picture books go (very far), Jessie Sima is my favorite. Jules wants to build an impressive sand castle but the ocean comes and tumbles it down. With the help of her sister, she manages to build the biggest castle and not without encountering enemies from the ground all the way to the sky! Jules got her eyes on you
Adorable story. As far as picture books go (very far), Jessie Sima is my favorite. Jules wants to build an impressive sand castle but the ocean comes and tumbles it down. With the help of her sister, she manages to build the biggest castle and not without encountering enemies from the ground all the way to the sky! Jules got her eyes on you
May 2, 2021
"Jules thinks the Ocean might be out to get her."
Jules wants to build the biggest, fanciest, most excellent sand castle to impress her sister, but the Ocean keeps interfering. It knocks her castle walls down again and again and even steals her bucket. How can Jules build an excellent castle without her bucket? "Her sister says the Ocean isn't doing this on purpose." And together they build a most excellent castle ... uh oh!
Cute story
Jules wants to build the biggest, fanciest, most excellent sand castle to impress her sister, but the Ocean keeps interfering. It knocks her castle walls down again and again and even steals her bucket. How can Jules build an excellent castle without her bucket? "Her sister says the Ocean isn't doing this on purpose." And together they build a most excellent castle ... uh oh!
Cute story
June 9, 2021
Jules wants to impress her older sister by building the biggest, fanciest, most excellent sand castle but the ocean keeps getting in the way. Just when Jules is about to give up, her big sister joins forces with her and she learns that the most important part of building the biggest, fanciest, most excellent sand castle is not actually the sand castle itself, but who you build it with. Recommended for prek-2nd grade.
January 2, 2022
Rating: 4.9 leaves out of 5
Characters: 5/5
Cover: 4.5/5
Story: 5/5
Writing: 5/5
Genre: Children/Picture Book
Type: Book
Worth?: Yeah!
A very fun and cute book. The art draws you in as well as the story. I even had a few giggles. Main girl is young and funny. She just wanted to impress her sister. Also love that the older sister is so sweet to the younger one.
Characters: 5/5
Cover: 4.5/5
Story: 5/5
Writing: 5/5
Genre: Children/Picture Book
Type: Book
Worth?: Yeah!
A very fun and cute book. The art draws you in as well as the story. I even had a few giggles. Main girl is young and funny. She just wanted to impress her sister. Also love that the older sister is so sweet to the younger one.
June 24, 2020
I loved this adorable story about Jules who is trying to impress her busy, older sister with the most amazing sand castle ever. The ocean has other ideas. I love the bright, sun filled illustrations. I love the relatable story. And I love how in the end the ocean brings the two sisters together. A great summer time story to share aloud.
September 4, 2020
I loved this book! And every single person who has ever spent a day at the beach trying to build anything on the sand will relate all to well. The story is simple but engaging and really fun to read out loud and the illustrations are wonderful. A perfect, sweet combination...and a new favorite on our summer bookshelf.
September 29, 2020
Had the ending not happened (the mother explaining the ocean is controlled by the moon) I think this could have been a 4. But that "serious message/tone" took away from the light, fun story about a day on the beach for two siblings and a mischievous ocean. Sweet book to read aloud and beginning (with help) to middle beginning readers can enjoy reading themselves.
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October 4, 2020Jules wants to build the best sandcastle ever! Surely that will impress her sister, who is busy surfing? But the ocean has other plans, washing away all of Jules' attempts. Jules is determined not to give up, but when the ocean washes away her bucket too, what is Jules going to do?
A fun summer beach story filled with dry humor in both the words and illustrations.
A fun summer beach story filled with dry humor in both the words and illustrations.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 110 reviews