• Age: 4 to 9
• Grade: p to 4

Can anything eat prickly sea urchins? Can dead jellyfish still sting you? Why does water squirt up when you walk along the beach?

Biologist and artist Peggy Kochanoff answers these questions and more in this illustrated guide to solving beach mysteries. From the puzzling tidal life of barnacles to the stunning variety of seaweeds, Kochanoff dives deep into our coastal habitats and comes up with an entertaining and enlightening look at life by the ocean. Full of fascinating facts and surprising solutions, Be a Beach Detective is the perfect book for curious beachcombers of any age!

“Peggy Kochanoff graduated from Cornell University with a degree in vertebrate zoology and spent a summer working at the Central Park Zoo in New York City. She is the author and illustrator of several books for children, including Be a Beach Detective and Be a Wilderness Detective, which was shortlisted for a Silver Birch Express Award. After marriage and travelling, she settled with her husband and two sons on a tree farm in Nova Scotia.

Peggy Kochanoff's profile page

• Short-listed, Hackmatack Children's Choice Book Awards (English Non-fiction)

Written in the form of a series of mysteries with each section beginning with a question to be answered, this book melds scientific language and colourful display to engage the reader in the science of beach ecosystems and biology. Chapters are short and to the point which will help keep the attention of young readers. New vocabulary is highlighted, and each chapter ends with the emphatic statement: "Mystery solved."

Use this book to introduce students to the coastal systems of Canada or inspire an interest in ecosystems. Better yet combine a read aloud of this text with listening or learning the song "British Columbia" by Judith Drynan and Margaret Drynan. This book might also be used as an excellent resource for environment projects in the classroom. This is a great resource to use as a stand alone or interdisciplinary text.

Canadian Teacher Magazine (Vancouver, BC)

An entertaining and enlightening look at life by the ocean, perfect for beachcombers of any age.

Canadian Children's Book News (Toronto, ON)