Summer starts in just a few short days, so we’re heading to the beach to try a new activity in today’s Perfect Picture Book.
Title: Finding My Wave
Written By: Alexandra Katona
Illustrated By: Sara Palacios
Publisher/Date: Rocky Pond Books/2026
Suitable for Ages: 4-8
Themes/Topics: surfboarding, intergenerational, ocean, bravery
Opening:
The sun is still sleeping, but even in the distance the sound of waves crashing and slamming fills my ears.
The ocean is big and strong, and I’m feeling…not like that at all.
Brief Synopsis: A young girl overcomes her fear to surf in the ocean with her grandmother.
Links to Resources:·
- Head to the beach and ask a trusted adult to teach you to swim, kayak, canoe, fish, or any other activity they enjoy;
- Make a paper plate surfboard.
Why I Like this Book:
Intergenerational picture books are the best, especially when they feature an active, older adult sharing a beloved activity with a young relative, neighbor, or friend. In Finding My Wave, Mia’s Abuelita loves to surf, an activity that I haven’t seen featured in a picture book before. My guess is that few, if any, readers have tried riding a wave, and our image of the sport probably doesn’t include a surfboarding grandmother.
Possibly because few readers are familiar with the sport, Katona takes great care to show us how to ride the waves, from arrival at the beach to “wiggle into our wetsuits” and “circle wax on our boards,” strapping “a leash around” an ankle, and paddling out into the water. As we journey with Mia and Lita, we experience the action through Mia’s eyes and body, “My stomach spins and tumbles, like seaweed in a wave.” I think any of us trying to surf for the first time might feel similarly, as if we were at the top of a rollercoaster about to whoosh down.
With deep breaths in and out, Mia makes “friends with” her fears and pops to her feet on the surfboard. Lita rides a wave in, too, to discover her granddaughter with a smile “as big as the sun.”
With a mix of closeups, panoramic views, and multi-illustration spreads featuring myriad shades of blue, Palacios helps readers experience surfing through Mia’s eyes.
Whether or not you surf or want to try, Finding My Wave is a wonderful introduction to the sport and a lesson in overcoming fear with the help of a loved one.
A Note about Craft:
Katona uses first-person point-of-view to draw the reader closer to the action and help readers empathize with the main character.
This Perfect Picture Book entry is being added to Susanna Hill’s Perfect Picture Book list. Check out the other great picture books featured there!
Wander, Ponder, Write 