Private Beach: No Platypuses Allowed

Ages 4 to 8

An inspiring, large-hearted picture book that takes on issues of inclusion, bullying, determination, and peaceful resolution in a humorous, touching, and deeply relatable way. This witty, wise, and timeless tale follows the adventures of a lovable family of platypuses.

It’s a perfect day for the beach, and Mrs. Duck-billed Platypus, her seven children, and her egg set off for an outing by the sea. But all does not go as planned. One beach does not allow beaks. The next does not permit fur. The platypus gang is turned away again and again, but Mrs. Duck-billed Platypus remains calm and determined to provide her offspring with a beautiful beach experience.

On their journey, the platypuses meet many other animals in the same situation. Does Mrs. Duck-billed Platypus save the day for herself, her children, and all of the other animals?

About the Author

Originally trained in philosophy, Sophie Lescaut became a speech therapist, which catalyzed her interest in sound and the rhythm of words. She lives in Paris with her family and is the author of several children’s books.

Romina Martí is an award-winning illustrator and motion graphics artist who lives in a village near Barcelona. Romina combines her work in publishing with Musta, a graphic design studio she and her partner founded in 2015, which has illustration and animation at its heart. She has illustrated several children's books, including the Animal Builders series, ¡Ya vooooy!, which has been translated into several languages, Contes per ser lliures, a collaboration with the Catalan Association for Civil Rights and La Mariona i la Menjanits, for which she was selected for the Bratislava Illustration Biennale in 2019. She has a strong interest in animation and plans to pursue this new creative path in the near future.