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Johnny, the Sea, and Me
A timid ten-year-old boy meets Johnny, a gruff islander who will change his life, in this heartwarming middle-grade novel about finding yourself and your place in the world
Pedro has always dreamed of going to the sea. So when his mom takes him on a special trip to a small island in the Caribbean, he’s so happy that he grows an extra inch! But the troubles at home—bullying from classmates and an absent father—find a way to follow Pedro, even on vacation… Overwhelmed, the boy takes to the beach and runs away, hoping to leave his worries far behind.
That’s when he meets Johnny, an islander descended from pirates. At first, Pedro is frightened by Johnny’s imposing appearance and brusque manners. But Johnny, along with his chatty parrot Victoria, takes young Pedro under his wing and shares his island and his stories with him, thereby changing Pedro’s life. Because sometimes, like Pedro, you have to lose yourself to find yourself.
Pedro has always dreamed of going to the sea. So when his mom takes him on a special trip to a small island in the Caribbean, he’s so happy that he grows an extra inch! But the troubles at home—bullying from classmates and an absent father—find a way to follow Pedro, even on vacation… Overwhelmed, the boy takes to the beach and runs away, hoping to leave his worries far behind.
That’s when he meets Johnny, an islander descended from pirates. At first, Pedro is frightened by Johnny’s imposing appearance and brusque manners. But Johnny, along with his chatty parrot Victoria, takes young Pedro under his wing and shares his island and his stories with him, thereby changing Pedro’s life. Because sometimes, like Pedro, you have to lose yourself to find yourself.
124 pages, Hardcover
First published April 1, 2014
12 people are currently reading
114 people want to read
About the author
Melba Escobar
17 books124 followersMelba Escobar has a column at the Colombian newspapers El Espectador and El País. Her novel House of Beauty was chosen as one of the best books of 2016 by the Colombian National Novel Prize. She lives in Bogotá.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
June 6, 2025
Such a great little book... reminded me of The Old Man and the Sea, but for children. I liked the story a lot but my favorite parts were the chapter headings and artwork.
February 5, 2025
Quirky and a little magical, this book reminds me of one that might be found at your grandparents' house in your mom's former bedroom on a summer afternoon.
#BatchelderLove
#BatchelderLove
December 16, 2015
Un libro fácil de leer y en definitiva, una historia para niños.
March 3, 2025
Translated from Spanish by Sara Lissa Paulson.
Ten-year-old Pedro is in a pickle. He is being bullied by one of the boys in school and his father has gone away on an extended business trip without a word why. His mother has just announced that they are going on a vacation and taken him to the store to buy some clothes and shoes that fit him; he had a growth spurt. When they get to their island cottage, Pedro pins his mother down asking where his father has gone. When she admits he has left them and won't be coming back, Pedro storms out of the cottage and down the beach. It is getting late and he realizes he cannot find his way back to the cottage. He climbs a mango tree for something to stop his hunger, when he is caught stealing it by an older man. Johnny picks up that the boy is lost, upset, and hungry, so takes him into his cabin for the night. He answers Pedro's questions cryptically, leaving the boy to cry and search himself for answers. The two go out fishing the next day. When they return, Pedro's mother is there to pick up her son.
Paulsen's translation of Escobar's work is very smooth and gentle, reminiscent of the writings of Kate DiCamillo. Pedro has plenty of time to sort out some of the big feelings he is experiencing, rebuilding enough trust in his mother that they will be able to sort through things together.
Watercolor illustrations and thumbnails by Elizabeth Builes are gentle, delicate, and beautiful - the perfect match for this quiet text.
Hand this to young readers who enjoyed DiCamillo's Because of Winn Dixie. This slim novella reads quickly.
Recommended for grades 3-6.
Ten-year-old Pedro is in a pickle. He is being bullied by one of the boys in school and his father has gone away on an extended business trip without a word why. His mother has just announced that they are going on a vacation and taken him to the store to buy some clothes and shoes that fit him; he had a growth spurt. When they get to their island cottage, Pedro pins his mother down asking where his father has gone. When she admits he has left them and won't be coming back, Pedro storms out of the cottage and down the beach. It is getting late and he realizes he cannot find his way back to the cottage. He climbs a mango tree for something to stop his hunger, when he is caught stealing it by an older man. Johnny picks up that the boy is lost, upset, and hungry, so takes him into his cabin for the night. He answers Pedro's questions cryptically, leaving the boy to cry and search himself for answers. The two go out fishing the next day. When they return, Pedro's mother is there to pick up her son.
Paulsen's translation of Escobar's work is very smooth and gentle, reminiscent of the writings of Kate DiCamillo. Pedro has plenty of time to sort out some of the big feelings he is experiencing, rebuilding enough trust in his mother that they will be able to sort through things together.
Watercolor illustrations and thumbnails by Elizabeth Builes are gentle, delicate, and beautiful - the perfect match for this quiet text.
Hand this to young readers who enjoyed DiCamillo's Because of Winn Dixie. This slim novella reads quickly.
Recommended for grades 3-6.
September 4, 2017
El libro trata sobre un niño que se va de vacaciones con su mamá a una isla en el caribe (son colombianos), donde ella le cuenta que se está separando de su papá. El niño corre por la playa huyendo de las malas noticias y sin mirar atrás, al punto que se pierde. Cae dormido y al despertarse es encontrado y protegido por un ermitaño que resultó ser descendiente de piratas. A pesar del miedo inicial, el niño lo pasa super bien con las aventuras que Johhny y su lora le cuentan sobre la isla. Incluso, mientras la madre lo buscaba por todo el pueblo, ellos estaban buceando en un arrecife. Finalmente habla menos de la separación y más acerca de la confianza en si mismo del niño.
La obra me gustó, aunque tiene un par de "deus ex machina" que no ayudan mucho a la hora de 'conquistar' lectores, son recursos facilones. Pero para niños de 10 años estaría bien. Las ilustraciones acompañan, denotan. El lenguaje adolece de algunos localismos colombianos que podrían requerir mediación.
La obra me gustó, aunque tiene un par de "deus ex machina" que no ayudan mucho a la hora de 'conquistar' lectores, son recursos facilones. Pero para niños de 10 años estaría bien. Las ilustraciones acompañan, denotan. El lenguaje adolece de algunos localismos colombianos que podrían requerir mediación.
February 20, 2025
Translated from Spanish, with slightly magic realism sensibilities, this tells the story of Pedro who runs away after being told by his mother at the beginning of a special trip to the sea that his father has left them. It has a tragic sweetness to it as Pedro slowly faces his grief and anger and finds his way back to his mother and the possibilities of new beginnings.
April 8, 2025
10yo Pedro is so excited - his mother is taking him to see the ocean! They are flying to an island in the Caribbean, where he expects the water to be beautiful and to see ocean life he cannot see in Columbia. But when he arrives, and his mother tells him some bad news, Pedro runs, and runs and runs, until he is lost far down the beach. He is discovered by an old man who takes him to his shanty, feeds him dinner and lets him stay the night, where he hears stories of Prirates and adventure, and experiences some adventure of his own.
Originally published in Spanish, and a Batchelder Honor for 2025, Johnny the Sea and Me contains illustrations, and short chapters. There's an element of magic, both with the old man as well as with Pedro. I wasn't impressed, however, and there were some questionable decisions made by Johnny - like should a lost 10yo willingly go home with a stranger. Johnny and his mother are Columbian.
Originally published in Spanish, and a Batchelder Honor for 2025, Johnny the Sea and Me contains illustrations, and short chapters. There's an element of magic, both with the old man as well as with Pedro. I wasn't impressed, however, and there were some questionable decisions made by Johnny - like should a lost 10yo willingly go home with a stranger. Johnny and his mother are Columbian.
April 12, 2025
3 stars (I liked it)
This was a little weird (another review said "quirky" which I feel describes it well) but I kind of liked the weirdness. It's a short story about a boy (who grows when he is happy and shrinks when he is sad) who is on vacation and gets losts and meets a local. The story is quick but enjoyable.
This was a little weird (another review said "quirky" which I feel describes it well) but I kind of liked the weirdness. It's a short story about a boy (who grows when he is happy and shrinks when he is sad) who is on vacation and gets losts and meets a local. The story is quick but enjoyable.
April 2, 2025
Johnny was susceptible to bullying at school and literally felt smaller when his mother corrected him. After running away and spending part of his vacation with a "beach bum", his mother has a bit more clarity about letting Johnny make some decisions.
May 26, 2025
A Mildred Batchelder Honor Book, and well worthy of this award. Beautifully written story about a boy who is trying to grow into knowing and understanding himself as he is nearing adolescence, despite his mother treating him as a younger child. An engaging story which is also a quick read
October 31, 2017
Una lectura entretenida, tan dulce y tierna como su protagonista.
August 8, 2018
Un libro corto, rápido con unas ilustraciones espectaculares. Un bonito libro.
February 20, 2024
2.5
Un libro hermoso, una historia bastante floja.
Un libro hermoso, una historia bastante floja.
April 22, 2024
Ando reencontrándome con la literatura infantil. Un hermoso libro que nos explica que no hay buenos ni hay malo, solo personas que intentamos vivir y que en este proceso nos podemos equivocar. 🫂
July 29, 2024
RATL24: South America
February 25, 2025
Simple and sweet story about Pedro’s vacation on the Caribbean.
March 5, 2025
Great Book
It is a 5 star, great story. Would recommend for younger readers! I read to my 9 year old and he loved it.
It is a 5 star, great story. Would recommend for younger readers! I read to my 9 year old and he loved it.
March 17, 2025
The illustrations in this book are fantastic.
May 5, 2025
Beautiful illustrations. Odd story.
Batchelder Honor book 2025
Batchelder Honor book 2025
June 3, 2025
YMA 2025 Mildred L Batchelder honor book
June 14, 2025
A story like a warm ocean with gentle ripples.
March 3, 2025
Perfect book dealing, gently, with the issue of divorce. "Dealing" is maybe too strong of a word. It's a book like a sun-suffused dream, populated with a handful of good (albeit a little broken) people and lovable animals, who find each other and a path forward.
A balm for a weary soul. A gem of a book, recommended to adults as much as to kids.
A balm for a weary soul. A gem of a book, recommended to adults as much as to kids.
February 11, 2023
La historia de Johnny y el Mar fue una de esas gratas sorpresas que me dejó la FIL Cali. Esta autora caleña nos entrega una historia dulce y llena de fantasía, de un niño que se pierde una noche explorando la playa y es acogido por un hombre que es descendiente de piratas y que guarda uno de los secretos más importantes de ese pueblo costero. Su pequeña aventura es además un momento para plantearse preguntas sobre su papá, su mamá y sobre sí mismo.
Una lectura corta para compartir como cuento de buenas noches con los peques de la casa.
Una lectura corta para compartir como cuento de buenas noches con los peques de la casa.
April 25, 2014
"No estaba cansado de oir su respiración, como si su cuerpo fuera la casa de alguien donde él estaba a gusto con la música de fondo y el paisaje alrededor"
October 15, 2016
3.5 / 5
Una linda historia. Simple y con cierto toque reflexivo.
Una linda historia. Simple y con cierto toque reflexivo.
January 21, 2017
Sólo tengo una cosa que decir: qué libro tan pendejo y jarto.
June 20, 2014
Un excelente relado para grandes y chicos. Las ilustraciones son de lujo.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews