“I’ve built a grand castle with turrets and towers. And parapets, arrow slits, keeps, and a moat. I’ve battled the seagulls and land crabs for hours; The coastline is littered with seaweed I smote.”

So begins the poem under the letter C, as in C is for Castle in Richard Michelson’s new alphabet book S is for Sea Glass. One is tempted to say the book is for kids, but in a way it is for parents, too. The 26 poems are made up of free verse, haiku and odes, and all are celebrations of the sea and beach life. Best of all, the poems were all written on the Vineyard, and even when not named, the Island shines through.

Mr. Michelson will be out and about this week giving readings, talking about his book and writing in general. He will sign books at Cousen Rose Gallery in Oak Bluffs on August 14 from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. and give a reading at the Edgartown library on Friday, August 15.

Mr. Michelson is the author of numerous books for children, including Lipman Pike, a New York Times editors’ choice in 2011, Busing Brewster, and last year’s Twice As Good, about the only golf course designed, built and owned by an African American, William Powell.

He has also written many books of poetry, some of which he refers to as “poetry for teens, juvenile delinquents and immature adults.”

For more information, visit richardmichelson.com.

But before you head to the internet, perhaps it is best to end with the beginning of T is for Tide.

“Each day the tide’s high and each day the tide’s low. The world’s full of mysteries we’ll never know.”