Hum and Swish by Matt Myers
Published by Neal Porter Books on June 11th 2019
ISBN: 0823442861
Pages: 40
Goodreads

Hum and Swish is a simple, quiet book about a little girl with pale skin and brown hair. Jamie and her family are at the beach. Jamie is creating a sandcastle project and everyone keeps asking her questions. Finally, a woman comes to sit near Jamie and paint and doesn’t ask her any questions.

The story seems very simple on the surface, opting to show most of what is happening with the illustrations, rather than the text. The acrylic and oil paintings bring a beach-y ocean feel, with brush strokes demonstrating the swish of the ocean waves. Many children might need help articulating what the story is “about” but the illustrations give a lot for children to explore.

Recommended.

Reviewed by Sarah Cropley, Scarborough Public Library.