I was in second grade around 1963 or 1964 in Los Angeles Unified School District. I remember in the school library there was a book on a book stand. It was hardcover, green, with gold etching, about half or three quarters inch thick, a bit over-sized. I desperately wanted to take home that book but couldn’t. Now I think I dreamed it up. The words “sea” and “star” and “world” sometimes flit before me. (It’s not Sea Star by Marguerite Henry or the Sea Around Us by Rachel Carson.) It was not heavy on text. I had another epiphany with Holling Clancy Holling (Paddle to the Sea?), but I’ve looked at all of his titles and it’s none of them. It’s size and feel were definitely Holling — green library binding — but not so wordy. I can’t get any farther than this, but I MUST find that book!! It is a true needle in a haystack with no author or title. I have searched thousands of images of vintage books and can’t find this.
The most likely match, considering year, gold letters, etc., seems to be Harvest of the Sea, by Walter Buehr.
Could this be “The Mysterious Christmas Shell” (1961) by Eleanor Cameron? A copy of the book–without the illustrated dust jacket–looks like it could have had a green cloth binding with a golden etching of a seashell on the cover.
Harvest of the Sea would not have attracted my attention in second grade – not very juvenile. Mysterious Christmas Shell is an interesting idea, but not it. But I’m feeling more confident!! But you’re both in the right era. 🙂
I should add that this book was by itself on a bookstand next to the checkout desk, leading me to believe it must have been a special book.