Meet our first book -
Emil’s Day at the Beach
About the Book
What if the best adventures begin with a change in perspective?
Emil doesn't want to go to the beach. The sand is messy, the ocean is loud, the sun is hot, the wind is strong, and the waves keep knocking him over. But with Mama Bear's gentle encouragement, Emil begins to discover that every challenge holds something wonderful, too.
Filled with warmth, humor, and beautifully hand-painted watercolor illustrations, Emil's Day at the Beach is a heartwarming story about choosing joy, embracing new experiences, and learning to see the good - even when things don't go as planned.
Perfect for ages 2–8, Emil's Day at the Beach encourages children to face new experiences with confidence, curiosity, and the support of those who love them. Inspired by a family's real beach adventures on Hilton Head Island and illustrated with original hand-painted watercolors by a mother-daughter team, this delightful picture book is an ideal read-aloud for families preparing for a beach vacation, navigating sensory sensitivities, or simply teaching children the power of perspective, resilience, and gratitude.
Age Range
2-8 years old
Preschool - 3rd Grade
Themes
New Experiences
Perspective
Resilience
Family Love
Formats
Paperback - $15.99
Hardcover - $24.99
Meet the Creators
Elise North, Author and Editor
Elise North lives in Watkinsville, Georgia with her husband Jon, four sons, and dog. She loves the beach, Broadway musicals, Tennessee, and petting every animal she can, and finds joy in turning everyday moments into adventures. She is always in the middle of a project, a story, or a half-finished thought. In her writing, she seeks to create meaningful, relatable stories that help children better understand and navigate their world. Emil's Day at the Beach is her first children's book, created with her mother.
Cheryl Hudnall, Illustrator
Cheryl Hudnall lives in Kingsport, Tennessee with her husband, Phil. She is a lifelong creative who has brought joy and beauty to those around her through textile arts, handcrafted cards, and countless batches of chocolate chip cookies. Her life has been shaped by a strong commitment to faith and family. She raised two daughters and is the proud grandmother of eight grandchildren. She provided the hand-drawn watercolor illustrations for Emil's Day at the Beach.
Behind the Pages
[A note from Elise North, author of Emil’s Day at the Beach]
Every book has a story behind the story. Emil's Day at the Beach grew from decades of family memories, unexpected challenges, and a shared dream between a mother and daughter.
A Family Beach Story
Since 1989, my family has gathered on Hilton Head Island every summer. We don't remember years by calendars; we remember them by beach trips. The island has become the backdrop for birthdays, cousins, long walks, card games, sunsets, and countless memories together.
Ironically, the beach has also been the setting for some of our struggles.
When my dad was a child, he was stung by a Portuguese man o' war. He never swam in the ocean again; yet, he never passed that fear on to us. Instead, he gave us the freedom to fall in love with the beach ourselves.
Years later in my mid twenties, I was stung by a stingray. The barb pierced four inches into my leg, leading to a week in the hospital, months of physical therapy, and lasting effects.
Then came our own children, and new challenges emerged. One worried about sea creatures. Another couldn't tolerate the noise from the wind and waves. Another got a rash from the sand. Another complained about the heat.
As parents, we discovered something beautiful: when we patiently (and, if we're being honest, sometimes not so patiently!) helped our children know what to expect and see the beach through new eyes, many of those fears slowly gave way to confidence—and eventually, delight.
That realization became the seed of Emil's story.
Bringing Emil to Life
Although we'd talked for years about creating a children's book together, everything changed when my mom, Cheryl, picked up watercolor painting at the age of 66.
Emil's Day at the Beach began as a simple note on my phone and looked quite different than the book you hold today. In the earliest draft, the characters were ducks! Eventually, we settled on black bears as a tribute to our Appalachian roots. Emil's name is a family tribute, too - it's the masculine form of my sister Emily's name and also the middle name of my youngest son.
Over the next two years, the story and illustrations evolved together. My mom painted every illustration entirely by hand using Daniel Smith watercolors and Rosemary & Co. brushes. No digital illustration software. Just paper, paint, patience, and countless hours at her desk.
She would bring finished paintings with her when she visited me in Georgia, and I'd carefully scan them at our local library, color-correct, and prepare them for print.
A True Family Project
No book is created alone.
My husband, Jon, and our four boys have heard this story so many times they could probably recite it by heart. They've offered ideas, spotted things we missed, and reminded us what children actually notice. One of my favorite suggestions came from my son Ben, who suggested that "Mama" should become “Mama Bear” - a small change that somehow made the entire story feel warmer.
We've also shared early versions of Emil with classrooms during Mystery Reader visits, where dozens of children unknowingly became our first audience. Their enthusiasm, questions, and honest reactions helped shape the final book more than they will ever know.
We hope that as you read Emil's Day at the Beach with the children you love, it becomes part of your own family's story, too.
Where To Buy
Emil’s Day at the Beach is now available wherever books are sold.
Prefer shopping locally? Ask your favorite independent bookstore to order Emil's Day at the Beach through Ingram.