The sun is blazing and the beach is busy. The lifeguards are preparing the equipment they will need for the day.
Right behind them is a little lifeguard. He has his orange swimsuit and yellow and orange hat – just like the big lifeguards. He wants to help them with their important tasks.
“Across the sand,
Under the sun,
Wanting to help,
The littlest one.”
He follows them up and down the beach, keen to part of everything. But somehow things begin to go wrong!
First it is the kayaks. The Littlest Lifeguard isn’t big enough to help with those. Crash!
The flags! They must go out to show people where to swim. The Littlest Lifeguard rushes to help but…. Rip!
More equipment is handed out to the surf lifeguards for their day. The Littlest Lifeguard just gets in the way!
He is suddenly left alone on the sand as the older surf lifeguards rush out in a boat to an emergency. But just because the bigger lifeguards are busy doesn’t mean there aren’t people left on the beach to help.
The Littlest Lifeguard knows his beach and even the smaller things that can go wrong. But just because they aren’t on the water, doesn’t mean they’re not important. Especially to the littlest beachgoers on the sand around him.
There are snapping crabs, crumbling sand castles, and the hot sun blazing down. Only the Littlest Lifeguard is there to help.
A common conundrum – younger siblings, cousins or children – keen to do what the bigger kids are doing. The Littlest Lifeguard captures this perfectly on a sunny New Zealand beach as he tries to help the local Surf Lifeguard Team. They try to involve him as much as they can, even when he is causing havoc. But when an emergency arises, the Littlest Lifeguard‘s safety is important and he’s left on the beach.
What happens next shows young readers that just because they can’t do what the big kids are doing, doesn’t mean they are less important. Smaller tasks like supplying sunscreen, water, shade or even decorations for a sagging sandcastle, can all help make a beachgoers day.
With repetition and sprinklings of rhyme, and Lisa Allen’s distinctive pastel colours and gentle and positive style, The Littlest Lifeguard is a perfect summer read for the ‘Littlest’ in homes or schools.
Author – Vanessa Hatley-Owen
Illustrator – Lisa Allen
Picture Book
(2024, Upstart Press, NZ, New Zealand, Aotearoa, Lifeguards, Team, Beach, Saving, Swimming, Helping, Joining in, Responsibility, Being with the big kids, Surf Lifesaving, Sunscreen, Shade, Water supply, Little jobs are important too)