Three by the Sea (Penguin Young Readers, Level 3)

This early reader by Edward Marshall is perfect in every way. Three children -- Lolly, Sam, and Spider -- are having fun on the beach. They have just eaten lunch and want to go for a swim, but decide they shouldn't go swimming so soon after eating their hot dogs and lemonade. So, they tell stories. Lolly is first, and she tells a story about a dog, a cat, and a rat. Her story is told in typical See-Jane-Run fashion. It contains neither plot, conflict, nor suspense. Sam and Spider don't like the story.Sam is the next to tell a story, but Lolly says his story must contain a cat and a rat. Sam's story starts with a reversal of expectations: a rat buys a cat for a pet. Everything about the story is suspenseful: in almost every frame, it appears that the cat is going to eat the rat. As it turns out, though, the cat has a secret favorite food that turns out to not be "rat." A clever, funny, suspenseful tale.Finally, Spider gets his turn to tell a story. He incorporates the rat and the cat, but they are mere scenery: his tale concerns a monster who creeps along the seashore, looking for children to eat.Superbly clever and well-written, and the book indirectly teaches children about stories, plot, conflict, and suspense. A Must Read!

This is the story of Lolly, Spider and Sam, three kids who have just eaten lunch and have to wait a while before they can go swimming. To pass the time, they decide to tell each other stories about rats and cats.The first story, Lolly's, is a dead-on parody of an old-style phonics reader:'The cat sat by the rat. "I see him," said the cat. "I see the rat."The rat saw the cat. "I see him," said the rat. "I see the cat." And that was that.'Spider and Sam naturally hate this story, and they work to top each other with much more entertaining stories, always about cats and rats. This is one of my favorite kids' books, by one of my favorite kids' author/illustrators, the late, great James Marshall.I think it's an overlooked classic -- even better than some of Marshall's more popular works (such as the "George and Martha" series), and right up there with his other masterpieces: "Miss Nelson Comes Back" (written with Harry Allard) and "Fox and His Friends". All three feature very funny and surprising twist endings.If you find you like this book as much as I do, you'll want to check out its two sequels: "Four by the Shore" and "Three Up a Tree". Those are also highly enjoyable, but this one is the creme de la creme.Parents: This is a book they will love, although you may love it more. School librarians: BUY THIS BOOK! Publisher: Please restore this to print in a library-binding edition!

Great book, super for storytelling to one or a small crowd of preschoolers up through age 7. If you animate your voice and the action in the story, kids absolutely love it! I used this book for years and years in my job at both public and school libraries. I never get tired of reading/telling it.

This is a cute story about friends telling their own versions of the same story. It’s great for kids that are beginning to learn to read. I think it’s best for those going into 1st or second grade.

Bought this book as a gift--I remember hours of enjoyment sharing this series with my son when he was young. What's nice is that it's a book that adults can enjoy too, so we don't mind reading it over and over and over... :)

A classic. My 5th graders love it as much as my 3rd graders. I have my own students write a better story with these parameters: it must contain a cat, a rat and be better than Lolly's story. FUN!

Review For:  Marshall, Edward: "Three By The Sea" "Monsters really like kids. On toast!"A lurking monster sneaks silently up upon three children -- two boys and one girl -- who, all unaware, sit telling stories to one another on the seashore.Will the hapless Lolly, Spider, and Sam all be gobbled up, and munched by the Monster whose favorite meal is Kids-on-Toast?!?Read the book, and find out! :)

This book is one of my kids favorites growing up. We saw it on Reading Rainbow and were hooked. I bought 3 copies so my 20 and 21 and myself can each have a copy to remember a great book.

James Marshall's books are such a delight to read. This one has stories embedded within the story (each character takes a turn telling a story) and was very enjoyable!

Needed for assessment.