A timeless Buddhist tale about the things that matter most: truth, generosity, compassion, and love. When a group of children are having a playful day at the beach, the fun of building sand castles is forgotten when they start arguing about whose castle is best. While fighting over “I,” “me,” and “mine,” they end up destroying and abandoning the castles they so carefully constructed. The timely arrival of a magical wise man teaches the children that unlike the sand castles, it is the things we can’t see that really matter most. Delicately illustrated by the beloved and award-winning author Demi, The Secret of the Sand Castles teaches children the joy of creating a harmonious world in which to live—with an open heart and love for one another.

The thirty-eight volume Judy Bolton series was written during the thirty-five years from 1932-1967. It is one of the most successful and enduring girls' series ever published. The Judy Bolton books are noted not only for their fine plots and thrilling stories, but also for their realism and their social commentary. Unlike most other series characters, Judy and her friends age and mature in the series and often deal with important social issues. To many, Judy is a feminist in the best light-smart, capable, courageous, nurturing, and always unwavering in her true beliefs; a perfect role model.

Imagine a place where dreams come true! With a young child's imagination and a touch of magic, a boy named Tony found such a place. Every summer, Tony and his family spend two months vacationing at their beach house. One special summer, however, stood out among the rest and life as Tony had known it would be changed. Tony's favorite pastime was building sandcastles by the water's edge. He would roam the beach in search of the perfect sand to build the strongest castles that a little boy could. Tony built plenty of castles, but one in particular had a secret hidden inside. This story illustrates how children use what is around them to show the world what their heart is in search of, even when they might not know it themselves. Tony didn't realize he was in search of a lifelong friend. He felt an absence of something in his life, but he wasn't sure what it was. Then on one ordinary vacation, Tony just happened to have created a very unordinary sandcastle. With this enchanting chain of events, it helped Tony express to his parents what was really in his heart. You will have to see what a little boy's imagination, mixed with his hidden desires, unlocks the secret of the sandcastle!

Originally published in 1967, this is a facsimile reproduction of the rare 38th and final book in the Judy Bolton Series in which Judy solves a mystery concerning a beach cottage. Also available are the first two books in the series, The Vanishing Shadow and The Haunted Attic.

The twins vacation in Beachcliff Bay is an unusual one. Is the Wilson house haunted?