Anna, her parents and extended family - aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents - are spending the day by the sea. To begin with, everyone is engrossed in a favourite activity, except for Anna who is desperate for someone to join her in splashing about in the waves. This is the second picture book featuring Anna Hibiscus (who also appears in a series of chapter books for independent readers) and whilst there is universal appeal in the depiction of her enjoyment of a day on the beach, the text and Lauren Tobia's lovely pictures also convey vivid cultural detail about its setting. Traditional and modern images intermingle: Anna's mother's pale skin is in contrast to the rich brown skin tones of her large African family (we learn elsewhere she is Canadian); hairstyles, headwear and clothing suggest traditional African patterns but children are shown playing with their mobile phones and views of the palm-fringed beach expand to reveal a contemporary urban skyline.