Out to Sea

by Helen Kellock

From the award-winning author of The Star in the Forest comes this heart- felt story about learning to cope with anxiety and grief. Out to Sea follows the journey of a young girl named Lara who is so sad after the death of her grandmother that her tears flood her room, her house, her town, and eventually sweep her out to sea. Adrift, she struggles to overcome her sadness until she discovers a pearl at the bottom of the ocean that triggers happy memories of her grandmother and the times they shared. With that pearl tucked in her pocket and the realization that she’s not alone, Lara finds the strength to pick up her oars and row herself back home.


Beautifully illustrated and written with sensitivity, this moving tale of social and emotional learning expresses the experience of anxiety and grief and shows readers how they might ride the waves of emotion without losing perspective.

Genres: Picture Books, Grief, Childrens, Family, Death, Mental Health

32 pages, Hardcover

Published June 15, 2021

Reviews

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hmmmm … never judge a book by its cover. And, yet, what did I do with Out to Sea? I judged it by its cover, racing to grab it at the library because I saw the beautiful cover, the word “Sea,” and, on the title page, the cutest little turtle. Was it about a girl’s adventures in the ocean? Oh no. It was so much deeper. {Yes, I saw the pun!}

Lush illustrations will pull you into the grief that engulfs Lara after her Nana died. Her tears take her to see where she discovers a thing of beauty (I would argue MANY things of beauty but she only keeps one) that reminds her that she is not alone and that she can picture her Nana and smile.

With such complicated subjects as grief, depression, and anxiety, simplicity can be a boon. Out to Sea brings that minimalism enveloped in emotional watercolor artwork, presenting it in a way that can help children to understand these difficult topics.

[Michal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Myslím, že mnohé svádí obrázkové knihy jenom tak proletět, zavřít a vrátit zpátky na poličku dětem. K těm koneckonců budou nějaké ty obrázky mluvit víc. Je to trošku škoda, může se vám tím vyhnout hodně krásného. Když se mi do rukou dostane obrázková kniha, mívám takový drobný pocit jakési prestiže, že jsem se ocitnul v galerii (bez udýchaných davů) a můžu v ní strávit tolik času, kolik jenom budu chtít, aniž by mě někdo popoháněl. Můžu zkoumat detaily, dívat se zblízka i zdálky nebo se snažit rozklíčovat způsob, jakým jsou za sebou obrázky řazené či jak jsou na stránkách umístěné. Ono to není jen tak vytvořit dobrou obrázkovou knihu. Měla by se v ní dokonale snoubila výtvarná stránka s tou jazykovou (pokud tedy není kniha čistě obrázková), a to není vždycky věc samozřejmá.

Out to Sea od skotské výtvarnice Helen Kellock je ukázka toho, jak hluboký může obrázková kniha předat zážitek, když se v ní obrázky s textem netlučou. Nebo když se jedno nesnaží překřičet druhé. Slov je tu sice poskrovnu, ale žádné se mezi tahy štětce neutápí. Jako by je vlny moře nadnášely. Fungují tu jako dobře umístěný podpis na dokončeném díle.
Se štětcem to Kellock umí výtečně, snad nejraději mám to, jak pracuje se světlem. Jak dokáže zachytit prostupování paprsků skrz divokou mořskou hlubinu, která je plná mnohaodstínového života plného tajemství. Je to kouzelně snové!

Mám velkou slabost pro motiviku vody a moře, vábí mě na ní ta neustálá proměnlivost, jednou může být divoká, jindy má neobyčejnou schopnost pohladit. Stejně to umí i Out to Sea.

Na svojí kdysidětskou poličku jsem si ji pyšně vystavil a budu o ní teď smýšlet jako o své soukromé mořské galerii.

[Carmen · Rating 4 out of 5]

a very lovely picture book about grief

[Erin Buhr · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stunning illustrations draw you into this beautiful, yet mournful book about loss. A little girl has lost her grandmother and a sleepless night turns into an adventure at sea as she rides her tears out into the ocean and discovers she is not alone. It's a beautiful book full of symbolism and warmth, despite the difficult topic. My favorite parts are the gorgeous watercolor illustrations full of ocean life and the flowing movement of the sea.

[Tasnim · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked up the book thinking it was about a little girl's adventure in the sea. But it turned out to be a girl sailing in the salty sea of sorrow. I loved the metaphorical representation of sadness , how to to accept it and still find reasons to smile. I also loved the illustrations. A must read book for children to understand their feelings better.

[V · Rating 5 out of 5]

An allegory of grief, Out to Sea tells the story of a little girl who misses her grandmother, cries a sea of tears, floats out to sea, and ultimately finds she is not alone. The full-page, full-color illustrations sweep the reader along into the darkness of the night sea and then back to the warm glow of home.

I was very interested to find out T's reaction to this book, as none of his close family has died.
His reaction: "It's a sad book. It's mainly about sad."

I, conversely, could identify with little Lara. Kellock wordlessly conveys the depth of grief and the unmoored feeling one can experience after a loss. Kellock also effectively brings the reader back to the safety and security of a familiar support system. The closing message is one of reassurance that, though this will not be the only time of despair, one will not be lost at sea.

I think Out to Sea will be most meaningful for an audience experiencing grief. It is a beautiful and comforting book in its honesty.

[Jess El-Zeftawy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is beautiful. As story about a girl and a journey to the bottom of the sea was heartfelt. The author describes grief in a way that had me feeling a little choked up as I was reading it with my little one. "This would not be Lara's last time out to sea. There would be other sleepless nights and sad goodbyes. But Lara knew she was not alone and would always find her way back home."

[Katy Wheatley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lara is feeling overwhelmed with grief after her nana dies. She can't seem to shake the sadness. One night she cries so much that her tears roll her down to the sea where she learns to make friends with some of the sea creatures and find her way home again. Beautiful illustrations and a strong message about managing sadness and loss, this is a great picture book about grief.

[Victoria Sanchez · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good depiction of the situational depression (though the publisher's description says anxiety) that can occur after a loss. I'd argue it would also be a good book to help young children going through depression for the first time to see that they are not the only ones with such big, hard feelings. Spare words and sweeping, full-page illustrations set a somber tone.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

29.03.2022

Wow!! What a stunning picture book!! I don’t typically read kids books, especially the younger ones, but I flicked through this one at work today and wow!! This deals with grief in such a real, honest way. And those ILLUSTRATIONS!!? Stunning. Such an important story for kids to grow with to help them understand their feelings of grief

[Imogen McKenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a gorgeous book that shows children in different family situations and how to deal with grief, but also how different people deal with grief. This book shows children that they are never alone even when they feel so, but are instead, surrounded by people who are always there for them.

[Ashlyn Bingham · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so cute. The lesson to be learned is obvious enough for young children, yet it’s also simply a sweet story if the child can’t relate to grief and loss. Very beautiful metaphor that even adults can learn from.

[Pinky · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lara cries a river and heads out to sea. She comes back renewed with a pearl of a memory.

[LudmilaM · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful story about grief and anxiety. What stood out for me is message that some problems need time and don't have a one time solution.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

A story about grief. It's really sad! But it's important to be real with your kids about grief and that it will get better.

[Nicolle Hunter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very bittersweet story of loss told through a young girl's point of view and how she finds her way home again.

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a cute and good children’s book! It talks about the emotions we get that lead us to feel alone, and lost! Then reminds that even in the darkest moments there is light to be seen!

[Sarah Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful metaphor of sadness, sorrow and grief. I think my seven year old barely understood it. Expressive sweeping illustrations.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

beautiful illustrations with soft colors. A girl is sad and the sea is a metaphor for grief and a sleepless night. I liked the ocean animals.

[Mehsi · Rating 5 out of 5]

A gorgeous book about loss, mourning, letting go, and finding the way back.


When I picked up this book I hadn’t expected to feel this much. I thought it would be a gorgeous picture book, but hadn’t expected that I would be so impacted by it. I am going to be trying to write a review, but sorry in advance if it is a bit chaotic.

In this gorgeous book we meet a little girl named Lara, she lost her grandmother very recently and we see how she is affected by it. She just cannot do anything. Yes, crying. Sleeping. Lying on bed. She is riddled with anxiety. During one such night her tears flood the room and take her out on a journey. Across the sea. Into the ocean. Lost. And yes, this hit me. This is how I feel. Have felt for months. In December 2021 I lost my sweet grandpa and May 2022 my grandma left us. I am struggling to be fine (just keep on going, keep on going). For now I am still stuck at that bottom of the ocean. Well, OK, sometimes I manage to get out for a breath of air (thanks to my hamsters, baking, my husband). But I am definitely not like Lara. Able to row away. Able to take that gorgeous thing home and feel better. So yeah, I was practically crying while reading this one. I was just so chocked up. Because Lara’s feels were all my feels. I hope though that one day I can be like Lara and row away. Feel better again. I feel that this book may have set something in motion for me though.

I love it that Lara was able to conquer things. That she was able to find something. That even back at home she would now be better.

The art in this one is absolutely gorgeous. Really. Really. Gorgeous. I loved the details. The way the illustrator drew all the emotions. The light when she found something beautiful and brining her joy. And then the ending.

All in all, I would highly recommend this book.

Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful story about grief

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book on dealing with just sadness in general.