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Me and You and the Red Canoe
In the stillness of a summer dawn, two siblings leave their campsite with fishing rods, tackle and bait, and push a red canoe into the lake. A perfect morning on the water unfolds, with thrilling glimpses of wildlife along the way.
The narrator describes the experience vividly. Trailing a lure through the blue-green depths, the siblings paddle around a point, spotting a moose in the shallows, a beaver swimming towards its home and an eagle returning to its nest. Suddenly there is a sharp tug and the rod bends to meet the water. A few heart-stopping moments later, the pair pull a silvery trout from the water, then paddle back to the campsite to fry up a delicious breakfast.
The poetic text is accompanied by stunningly beautiful paintings rendered on wood panels that give a nostalgic feeling to the story.
The narrator describes the experience vividly. Trailing a lure through the blue-green depths, the siblings paddle around a point, spotting a moose in the shallows, a beaver swimming towards its home and an eagle returning to its nest. Suddenly there is a sharp tug and the rod bends to meet the water. A few heart-stopping moments later, the pair pull a silvery trout from the water, then paddle back to the campsite to fry up a delicious breakfast.
The poetic text is accompanied by stunningly beautiful paintings rendered on wood panels that give a nostalgic feeling to the story.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2017
95 people want to read
About the author
Jean E. Pendziwol
17 books297 followersJean E. Pendziwol is an award winning Canadian author of books for adults and children. Her children’s books include Governor General Literary Award and TD Canadian Children's Literature Award winner Skating Wild on an Inland Sea (Groundwood Books, ill. Todd Stewart), and the bestselling No Dragons for Tea: Fire Safety for Kids (and Dragons) (Kids Can Press), which continues to be used as a valuable resource for teaching fire safety. Her debut adult novel, The Lightkeeper’s Daughters was published by HarperCollins and is available in 20 other countries and 16 languages around the world. She lives in the shadow of the Nor’Wester Mountains near Lake Superior and draws inspiration for her stories from the rich history, culture and geography of northwestern Ontario, Canada.
Jean's adult work is represented by Jenny Bent of The Bent Agency and her children's work by Olga Filina of 5 Otter Literary.
Jean's adult work is represented by Jenny Bent of The Bent Agency and her children's work by Olga Filina of 5 Otter Literary.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
November 10, 2018
This is a simple picture book, written in free verse, about two siblings who make an early-morning fishing trip in their red canoe.
Unlike the creepy, in-your-face, radical environmentalism of the last picture book I read (coincidentally from the same publisher), this is a more gentle look at appreciating nature. In the still of early morning, the siblings see and hear all sorts of things: moose, beavers, squirrels, eagles, and (of course) fish. The whole tone of the story is whisper-quiet, and it's a beautiful change of pace.
The illustrations are really unique, too, although I'm not sure how appealing they would be to little kids. The pictures are all painted onto wood, and then aged to look like they've been battered around for a few decades. I don't think I've ever seen illustrations in a children's book quite like this before.
This is a lovely picture book that might appeal to kids (as well as their parents) who love camping and the outdoors.
Quotable moment:
Unlike the creepy, in-your-face, radical environmentalism of the last picture book I read (coincidentally from the same publisher), this is a more gentle look at appreciating nature. In the still of early morning, the siblings see and hear all sorts of things: moose, beavers, squirrels, eagles, and (of course) fish. The whole tone of the story is whisper-quiet, and it's a beautiful change of pace.
The illustrations are really unique, too, although I'm not sure how appealing they would be to little kids. The pictures are all painted onto wood, and then aged to look like they've been battered around for a few decades. I don't think I've ever seen illustrations in a children's book quite like this before.
This is a lovely picture book that might appeal to kids (as well as their parents) who love camping and the outdoors.
Quotable moment:
We sat on a log by the shore,
sipping hot chocolate
from warm mugs,
listening to the laughter of a loon
calling out from the mist.
February 29, 2020
Let me just say, I checked this book out for my almost-7 year old son. He's really interested in this sort of thing. He loved the book. Objectively, I think it's a good book -- lovely illustrations and pleasant verse and a sweet heart about a canoe fishing trip that an adult and child enjoy together before the rest of their family awakens at the camp site (I appreciate that this is open-ended and that the adult could be a mother/father/aunt/uncle/grandparent/etc and the child could be either male or female). Personally, I do not like fishing at all and so I can't say I loved the book but I would not hesitate to recommend this book to anyone interested in camping, fishing, or sharing a love of the great outdoors with children.
October 17, 2017
What a beautiful book! The style of the illustrations perfectly capture the Northwoods feel of this story of siblings sharing time together on a lake, while the lyrical text describes an incredibly peaceful and natural setting. As a native of Northern Wisconsin, this book put me right back at my family's cabin and evoked such wonderful memories. I will be reading this aloud to my elementary library classes as we head into summer and talk about summer plans.
Thanks to House of Anansi for providing me with a review copy of this title.
Highly recommended for home bookshelves and libraries.
Thanks to House of Anansi for providing me with a review copy of this title.
Highly recommended for home bookshelves and libraries.
September 27, 2017
Beautiful descriptions of a dawn breaking, up with the stars, sibling time to love being together in a red canoe. And one to remember. The illustrations add to the sweetness of an early fishing time, just the two. Wouldn't it be wonderful if we all had these experiences out of doors?
April 25, 2022
A fun one!
Any child who likes camping and fishing will enjoy reliving the thrill of an early morning out on the water. Told in non-rhyming verse, and with illustrations of paintings on wood, it has a nice tranquil and rustic appeal.
Enjoy!
Ages: 4 - 12
Any child who likes camping and fishing will enjoy reliving the thrill of an early morning out on the water. Told in non-rhyming verse, and with illustrations of paintings on wood, it has a nice tranquil and rustic appeal.
Enjoy!
Ages: 4 - 12
December 31, 2020
Here is a beautiful story of friendship and nature, written with lovely lyrical language and accompanied by rustic, woody-looking illustrations. This is a good summertime, camping-trip kind of book.
October 26, 2017
Amazing illustrations that make me think of a painted summer cabin on a lake... perfectly complement a quiet contemplative story about catching a fish from a red canoe. Lovely read. Lovely pictures.
August 29, 2017
In this incredible poetic picture book, two children wake up in their tents on the shore of a Canadian lake. Quietly, after drinking some hot chocolate, they head out onto the water with their fishing tackle and rods in a red canoe. Paddling quietly through the water, they see a moose in the shallows, a beaver repairing its home, and hear a chattering squirrel. As the sun rises the light changes and they see an eagle flying and an eagle’s nest. The children start to fish, battling and landing a trout before heading back to the campsite. The morning continued with fish for breakfast for everyone.
Pendziwol is a gifted writer. Her verse bring the Canadian wilderness to life with all of the creatures going about their morning business, the silence of the lake and the wonder of it all. The fishing is a dynamic contrast to the quiet of the morning, the battle with the trout and the final win. It punctuates the book much like the appearance of the animals do, in little bits of delight. Her poetry flows much like the water on the lake, clean and clear, quiet but not ever dull. It invites readers into exploration of their own in canoes and on lakes.
The illustrations by Phil are rough and rustic. They are painted on wood with nail holes and cracks running straight through the pictures. These illustrations suit the entire book perfectly, creating a feeling of natural warmth and timelessness.
A winning picture book for those spending their summers on lakes or those who only dream of it. Appropriate for ages 4-7.
Pendziwol is a gifted writer. Her verse bring the Canadian wilderness to life with all of the creatures going about their morning business, the silence of the lake and the wonder of it all. The fishing is a dynamic contrast to the quiet of the morning, the battle with the trout and the final win. It punctuates the book much like the appearance of the animals do, in little bits of delight. Her poetry flows much like the water on the lake, clean and clear, quiet but not ever dull. It invites readers into exploration of their own in canoes and on lakes.
The illustrations by Phil are rough and rustic. They are painted on wood with nail holes and cracks running straight through the pictures. These illustrations suit the entire book perfectly, creating a feeling of natural warmth and timelessness.
A winning picture book for those spending their summers on lakes or those who only dream of it. Appropriate for ages 4-7.
September 9, 2017
After savouring this book for a little while, it is obvious that these duo not only have spent time in the outdoors but enjoy doing so. Their combination of words and images create a texture of what spending length of time out relaxing out near a lake. This book may appear to be a simple read at first, but for anyone – young or old – who takes the time to look carefully at the detail of both the words and the artwork here, gains a great appreciation of a simple canoe trip.
http://tinyurl.com/yax85gmz
http://tinyurl.com/yax85gmz
November 18, 2017
Although I'm not a fisherperson - and it doesn't interest me at all - and this book is about going out onto a lake fishing, I still consider the book a work of art, both in words and illustration. It's written in verse form, and would be a wonderful sample of free verse to share with a tween or teen. Gorgeous writing. The illustrations are really, really beautiful, there's no white, and even the page of text has a background paint-y collage that's lovely. I love that the illustrator is "Phil." No surname. Both author and illustrator are Canadians. Highly recommended.
August 30, 2017
Perfect to share with young readers as an example of descriptive writing, this gorgeously illustrated picture shares the perfect summer morning fishing on a lake. Using poetic language and acrylic paintings on wooden panels, the author describes waking up very early on a summer morning in the woods, enjoying hot chocolate by the campfire and the sights and sounds of rowing a canoe through the water to catch a trout to take back to camp. This is a beautiful book to add to any bookshelf!
October 16, 2017
Despite the overuse (in my opinion) of the phrase "blue-green depths," I liked the book. The jacket says it's about two siblings, but there's absolutely nothing in the text to say it's not a parent and child, or best friends, or any relationship at all - age and gender are not specified. In fact, if you ignore the last illustration, there's nothing in the pictures to say who the people might be, either.
April 7, 2018
A great poetry book for kids ages 8-12. Quiet, realistic portrayal of a morning canoe and fishing excursion on a quiet lake up north (Canada?). Excitement happens when a fish is landed, but the woods and water evoke a sweet nostalgia for parents & grandparents to share with young ones and make new memories just like the ones lovingly portrayed in the poem. Rustic illustrations enhance rather than detract. I loved this.
January 10, 2024
A book of tactility and sensuality, if possible in a children's book. It will resonate with adult readers who are familiar with the north woods. Details of early morning: sounds, sights, beaver, birds, water... It will fascinate curious youngsters who love beautiful words and pictures. The author focuses on that magic time in the very early morning, with two people sneaking away in a red canoe to do a bit of fishing. I love the illustrations by Phil.
August 18, 2017
This is a lovely, nostalgic book of North Woods/Lakes paintings and poetic narrative. This book brought to mind lake time with my dad in the Boundary Waters areas a child.
My preschooler was not as enamored of this book and complained that it had too many words and that you couldn't see the people in the boat. She also did not like the idea of just caught fried fish for breakfast.
My preschooler was not as enamored of this book and complained that it had too many words and that you couldn't see the people in the boat. She also did not like the idea of just caught fried fish for breakfast.
September 13, 2017
This book filled me with peace. The words and the wonderful artwork combined to fill me with memories of mornings on the lake. Mornings where the rest of the world is sleeping, and you have the calm and quiet to yourself. Sitting, or paddling through the calm waters. This will be a good book to read when life gets too stressful.
April 3, 2019
Free verse poetry text and very woodland feeling illustrations (much feels like it was written on bark).
The description says this is about 2 siblings, but to me it has the feel of a parent-child or even grandparent-child, although the child is fairly old (enough to deal with the fire and other campsite things alone).
This is time out on the lake fishing before everyone else is up.
The description says this is about 2 siblings, but to me it has the feel of a parent-child or even grandparent-child, although the child is fairly old (enough to deal with the fire and other campsite things alone).
This is time out on the lake fishing before everyone else is up.
August 3, 2017
Fans of the outdoors will enjoy the docile, nostalgic illustrations and poetic text in this book. Reading it makes you feel like you're out on a camping trip listening to birds in the early morning air and preparing for a canoe trip with an important family member.
September 9, 2017
Lovely, calm, and meditative. Even though catching fish for breakfast in a canoe sounds like a horrifying experience for me personally. And I can't see any of my students being that into it. However, I will buy for a friend who lives in Maine.
October 25, 2017
Very, very poetic and lyrical. Really a beautiful story about 2 brothers who go out in a canoe early one morning when camping. The only thing preventing me from giving this 5 stars is that, although beautiful, it is very, very deep...too deep for children. The illustrations are beautiful.
November 8, 2017
During the early hours of the morning a successful trout fishing expedition in a red canoe is imparted through verse. The pictures are soft and gorgeous. They capture the dawning beauty of the day. Lovely book.
December 27, 2017
Beautiful, lyrical, poetic recount of an early morning canoe ride. Nature is first and foremost in this vintage-style illustrated picture book. I could feel the paddles moving the boat, see the moose chewing, hear the squirrel complaining. Anyone who loves the outdoors will love reading this book.
February 23, 2018
5 stars on the merit of the images alone! Gorgeous, realistic illustrations by Phil that have lots of texture as they were painted on wood panels.
The story is lovely as well. Two kids get up early and go fishing on the morning lake.
The story is lovely as well. Two kids get up early and go fishing on the morning lake.
December 27, 2019
This book is just like fishing. Those who like fishing will probably enjoy this book. The rest of us will find it boring and wonder what the point is, just like fishing. Which makes sense, because this book is about... wait for it... fishing.
July 20, 2017
A beautiful book, an ode to camping at a lake in the summertime.
August 15, 2017
A quiet book about an early morning fishing trip in a canoe.
August 16, 2017
Beautiful
August 21, 2017
Peaceful paintings with wood board showing through, illustrate a simple story of camping, getting up at dawn, fishing, and being in nature. Evocative.
August 28, 2017
Beautifully illustrated picture book about a camping/canoeing trip in Canada.
September 3, 2017
I liked the texture of the illustrations. They had a very rustic feel to them. The story is simple is an ode to early morning time spent between parent and child.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews