And these are the things we find by the sea
My mommy, my mama, my brother, and me.

With this gentle refrain, the debut picture book from celebrated author and playwright Natalie Meisner (Double Pregnant) reflects on her own two-mom, two-son family's early days growing up in Lockeport, Nova Scotia.

Living by the sea offers myriad charms for the two young brothers in this poetic ode to beachcombing. When the fog disappears, the path to the beach beckons, with all the treasures it leaves behind: lobster traps, buoys, fused glass, urchins, a note in a bottle. But best of all is all the neighbours they meet along the way. An unforgettable instant classic for families of all shapes and sizes. Featuring glorious watercolours by Mathilde Cinq-Mars, which capture the warmth and magic of time spent with family by the sea.

Natalie Meisner's profile page

Born in Quebec, Mathilde Cinq-Mars is a graduate of the Université de Strasbourg in visual arts. Recent illustration projects include Mr. Mergler, Beethoven, and Me and the Acadian song collection Grande Tintamarre! Her illustrations have also been exposed at the Art Gallery of Ontario as part of the Youth Solidarity Project, at the Seigneurie d'Anhaive in Belgium, and at the Cabinet Amateur in France. She lives and works in Trois-Rivières, Quebec, with her daughter and a lot dried flowers.

Mathilde Cinq-Mars' profile page

• Winner, Best Books for Kids and Teens, Fall

"Paints a loving portrait of a warm and diverse same-sex family during a visit to the seaside." —The Globe and Mail (Toronto, ON)

"The text is rhyming and evocatively descriptive. The watercolours are beautiful, comforting and promote the beauty in nature. In a subtle way, children are introduced to a happy diverse two-mom, two son family living in a warm loving community. The tale is both positive and heart-warming." —Resource Links (Pouch Cove, NL)