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Summary
Summary
What child doesn't love walking in the surf, feeling the water steal the sand from beneath her toes as a wave retreats? Who doesn't love the salty smell of the air and the sight of ships far out on the horizon? What happens in the oceans is critically important to life on Earth. That's why the girl in her little blue house wants to believe that the children gazing back from far over the horizon love the oceans as she does and wants to keep them safe, alive, and beautiful.
Author Notes
Jo Ellen Bogart (Guelph, Ontario) has written 20 books for young readers, including The White Cat and the Monk , which was named a Best Poetry Book by the National Council of Teachers of English. Her bestselling books include Jeremiah Learns to Read , Daniel's Dog , and Gifts , several of which have been included on Canadian Children's Book Centre Our Choice lists.
Carme Lemniscates (Barcelona, Spain) is the author, illustrator, and designer of several critically acclaimed children's books including Trees, Birds, the upcoming Seeds (Candlewick), and El jard�n m�gico (Ekar�), for which she won the 2017 SCBWI Crystal Kite Award. She has also illustrated I Am a Warrior Goddess , Kate Coombs's BabyLit Little Poets board book series, and Hillary and Chelsea Clinton's Grandma's Gardens (Philomel). You can visit Carme at https://lemniscates.com.
Reviews (3)
School Library Journal Review
PreS-1--Who wouldn't want to live in a cozy house beside the sea? Through singsong rhyme and vivid imagery that invoke the senses, Bogart and Lemniscates have created a captivating tale of a young girl and the natural beauty that exists just outside of her home by the sea. She watches the boats go sailing by and sees fishermen and puffins keep busy trying to catch fish. Delightful images of humpback whales at play are followed by the light of the moon and the lighthouse towers being reflected in the big blue sea. Lemniscates brings readers into the young girl's world with vibrant colors, subtle nods to finger painting, and earthy tones that will beguile readers of all ages. VERDICT A fantastic addition to any children's library.--Katie Callahan, Montgomery County Public Sch., MD
Kirkus Review
A solitary child rejoices in the special beauty of a seaside home. Nattily dressed in green sweater, stocking cap, and orange leggings, the little redhead walks home from school over the cliff tops to a tiny blue house, first waving goodbye to school friends, one white, like the protagonist, and one a child of color. Along the way, the child admires the bees in the flowers, the puffins "with drooping fishes in their bills," and humpback whales breaching and observes the beauty of the ocean in all its moods. When a storm blows up, the child runs to the safe little cottage "that keeps me from the storm winds' might." Simple rhyming couplets and colorful, textured collages make this book evocative and charming, even for children who may not be familiar with the ocean. This young child seems to live independently in the titular house; while improbable, this is a fantasy that many readers will find appealing. In a final note, the author describes her connection with Newfoundland, where the little blue house of the title is located, and her fascination with the idea that the endless ocean could connect friends "who love the ocean as I do, and want to keep it safe, alive, and beautiful." Not the most original offering but a reassuringly fresh and simple take on nature in a complex world. (Picture book. 6-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
A little girl tells of walking home to her "little blue house beside the sea." Every day, she ambles along the cliff path, looking out at the boats and observing nature all around her: the tall grasses waving, the puffins waddling on the hills, and the whales playing in the ocean. At night, the moon rises, creating a glistening path on the water, and sometimes the lighthouse flashes its warning to ships. When a storm is brewing, the girl hurries to shelter in her tiny house. As the simply written, rhyming text says, "There is no place so dear to me / as that little blue house beside the sea." In a note, Bogart recalls enjoying the Gulf of Mexico as a child and, as an adult, looking out over the North Atlantic from Newfoundland, the book's setting. Using monotype, watercolor, acrylic, and digital elements, the mixed-media collage artwork offers scenes with strong lines, distinctive shapes, and some striking color combinations. An effective portrayal of a child's connection to both her home and the sea.
