A young girl finds a starfish on the beach and wants to show it to her mother at home, but doesn’t want to take it from its home. With encouragement from her dad and a little imagination, Ana is able to let the sea star go and yet keep it with her at the same time.

This beautiful picture book celebrates the power of imagination and an appreciation of the natural world.

Back matter invites children into the lives and experiences of a jellyfish, stingray, loggerhead turtle and other sea creatures.

The sea star waited as the sand settled around it.

Then slowly, slowly it crept home to the sea grass meadow

on hundreds of tiny tube feet.

Ana watched a snowy plover grab its dinner from the surf.

Then the tiny bird skittered across the sand.

Ana and Papa followed their shadows home.