All along the beach, there were radiantly colored seashells that the waves had polished so that they sparkled and shone in the sunlight. Thomas stared in amazement. He had never seen anything like it. He stepped barefoot over the sand, trying not to crush the seashells as he danced between them. Then he sat down, the water gently washing his toes as he explored the sea with his gaze. There were dolphins not far off the shore, dipping and flipping through the water. He closed his eyes for a moment just to take it all in. What is the tone of this passage? Which words give the passage this tone, and how does this contribute to the overall meaning of the passage?