Cargo

by Adèle Tariel, Jérôme Peyrat (Illustrator)

Tonight I am a bird. A seagull. A young child is tucked away in bed safe at home and imagines they are a seagull flying high above the ocean and watching over their father, the captain of a cargo ship, while he is away at sea. Tonight, they will journey across the sea to a faraway port. Through storms and calm, clear skies and fog, the bird will watch over the man until his work is complete and he can return safely home. With stunning illustrations that capture the immensity of freighters and the vastness of the ocean from a bird's-eye view, Cargo is a wonderful reminder of the connection between parent and child even when separated by great distances.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens

32 pages, Hardcover

Published February 14, 2023

Reviews

[Dione Basseri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Parents whose jobs take them away from home for long stretches of time face many challenges. But so too do their children have challenges. In this story, a child dreams they are a seagull, following along with their father’s cargo-hauling ship. They weather a storm, engine problems, and the long wait at port until a berth opens for them to dock and unload. All ending with the father coming home to their child.

I really enjoyed the art style of this book, done in color pencils. A spread that particularly struck me was the father’s trip down to the engine room, where one page is VERY basic, white background with zig-zagging lines to make stairs, plus a few portholes. But once he’s in the engine room, there’s a masterful use of perspective, showing how LONG it is, and how MANY engines there are. Those many stairs and the vast engines give some real scope for how big a cargo ship is. The outside of the ship also gives a great idea of how big it is, with storage containers twelve across and twelve deep. And they’re mere squares, because, at the distance needed to see all the containers, they become little more than a quilt!

Obviously, hand this to any kid who loves boats and ships, but also give this a try on train-loving kids. They’ll recognize the storage containers, and then be wowed at vessels that can move so many at once!

Advanced reader copy provided by the publisher.

[Mrs.MakesReadingFun · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a wonderful & unique story! "Cargo", in an imaginative way, tells the story of a seagull following a cargo ship on its journey. Rarely do we think about where those big ships go when they leave our harbors, so this was a really informative story. I loved the unique illustrations, and it had a heartwarming ending.

I think this story makes for a lovely read-aloud, as well as a great addition to any class units on transportation.

[The Silvan Reverie | Sarah Street · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stunning illustrations really drive the core of the narrative in this book. I love the color palette and overall style -- it invokes the imagination as we experience a cargo ship from the viewpoint of a bird. It's simple in its lyrical text, but nicely connects the reader to the present moment. I appreciate the spirit of connection, adventure, and mindfulness.

***Note: I was given a review copy of this book via Orca Book Publishers. Opinions are my own.

[Andréa]

Note: I received a digital review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.

[Leah · Rating 3 out of 5]

The gorgeous illustration steal the show!

[Danielle T · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very cute illustrations, though I felt like I was missing some context for why the captain went below (engine room?), might've been lost in translation.