Three beach-goers interrupt a game of catch to build a sand castle on a busy sandy stretch. Two individuals are African-American, one being toddler-sized. The third person involved is a white female. Their ages and roles are as open to interpretation as the rest of the events in this stunning book bearing large ideas and few words: "Catch ... Throw ... Uh-oh ..." Although the people in the book don't notice, young readers will see the big yellow ball as it is carried away on the tide and begins a long journey out to sea. Bang's dazzling full-color pastel paintings tell most of the story as they trace the progress of the ball, over dolphins and under sea gulls, beyond a bridge and through a night storm, before being washed ashore on a different beach and into the open arms of another brown-skinned child. (Ages 1-3)

Catch. Throw. Uh-oh. The yellow ball is forgotten at the edge of the water. Little by little, so no one notices, the ball floats out to sea. All alone, it travels and drifts into a storm. Tossed by waves all through the night, it sails ashore next day to a hug and a home. Luminous pastels and a rhythmic text tell a story that is exciting and reassuring. Full-color illustrations.