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Welcome to Week 2 of Our Summer Book Club

This week we're heading to the beach with Hum & Swish, written and illustrated by Matt Myers. We are enamored with this beautifully quiet story about imagination, creativity, and the magic of making something simply for the joy of creating.

Hum & Swish follows a young girl as she spends the day building with treasures she discovers on the beach. Curious passersby keep asking, "What are you making?" but her answer remains the same: "I don't know." The questions interrupt her creative flow, but everything changes when an artist quietly sets up nearby. Together, they create side by side, giving one another the space to imagine freely before finally sharing their finished works.

As Jilianne Hoffman beautifully says: "They both understand that creativity doesn't always have an answer to questions like 'What is it?' 'What are you making?' or 'When will you be done?'—until you're finished." It's a gentle reminder that creativity isn't always about having a plan. Sometimes the best ideas are discovered along the way. Hum & Swish celebrates open-ended creativity, quiet observation, and the confidence to trust your own ideas. Through stunning illustrations and minimal text, this children's book encourages kids to embrace the process of making rather than rushing toward a finished product.

Day 1: Read & Discuss

Settle in together and read the story slowly, allowing plenty of time to linger over the illustrations. Notice the colors, textures, and peaceful rhythm of the beach and the way Matt Myers captures the movement and sounds of the ocean. As you read, invite your child to wonder about the story rather than searching for right or wrong answers. When you finish reading, let the conversation unfold naturally.

Here a few discussion questions to guide your conversation.

Why do you think the little girl kept saying, "I don't know" when people asked what she was making?
Have you ever started creating something without knowing exactly how it would turn out?
Why do you think all the questions made it harder for her to create?
How did the woman painting nearby help the little girl without saying very much?
Why is it important to give people space while they're creating?
Which illustration was your favorite? What details did you notice?
If you spent a whole day at the beach, what would you build or create? What treasures might you collect from nature to inspire your own artwork?

This kind of slow, thoughtful discussion lets a story settle in and resonate long after the last page is turned. To help guide your conversation, we've put together a list of discussion questions and prompts specific to the book below.

Day 2: Writing & Drawing Prompt

Read through the story together once more before settling into a cozy creative space with paper, pencils, crayons, or watercolor paints. Invite your child to imagine they're spending the day on the beach with pockets full of found treasures. Keep the book close at hand as a guide for inspiration.

Here is a simple and open-ended writing and/or drawing prompt inspired by a day creating at the beach:

"If I spent a day creating beside the ocean, I would..." Encourage children to draw or write about what they would build, sculpt, paint, or invent. Would it be a giant sandcastle? A tiny village for crabs? A dragon made from driftwood?

Remind them that, just like the little girl in the story, they don't need to know exactly what they're making before they begin. The fun is in discovering it along the way.

Day 3: Paired Craft:

Using collected shells (or painted paper shells), arrange them into a beautiful mandala before gluing them onto paper or cardstock. Paint the shells in vibrant colors or add natural tones inspired by the seaside. As you create, notice the repeating patterns, balance, and symmetry found throughout nature. These hands-on activities encourage children to slow down, experiment, and celebrate the creative journey just as much as the finished piece.

For all the steps and more information on this activity, click here.

We'd love to see your beach-inspired creations! Share your artwork, writing, crafts, and Summer Book Club adventures with us on Instagram @bellalunatoys and tag #bellalunatoys for a chance to be featured in our stories or feed. Happy creating!