There are three things I know for sure about my five-year-old neighbour, Isaac: he enjoys visiting his grandparents’ cottage on Pigeon Lake, Alta., about an hour southwest of Edmonton, where we live; he’s an enthusiastic participant when I read picture books aloud; he has great conversational skills and likes to come to my house to talk. So, when I discovered some picture books for kids at our local library about going to the lake, I knew I had the ingredients for a summer activity he’d enjoy.
Sitting together on my back deck, we found out that not all cottage-themed picture books are appealing to a five-year-old kid. Some had stories that went on too long. Some had illustrations that weren’t that visually attractive. The books that Isaac liked best had delightful plots and characters, a kids’-eye view of the world, interesting language, and pictures that held a few surprises.
Photo by Indigo
Me and You and the Red Canoe
Written by Jean E. Pendziwol, illustrated by Phil
Two young people meet outside their tent at dawn for an early morning fishing trip. Gliding along in their canoe, they meet animals just waking up on the lake and bring back their catch for a breakfast feast. The water colour illustrations and sensory language create a gentle mood that matches the quiet of a lake at sunrise.
Isaac’s thoughts: “We have so many canoes and kayaks and other boats at my grandparents’ cottage, it looks like the First Nations people are going on a mission! I’ve heard loons lots of times, but I’ve never seen one. Once, my sister Fiona and I saw a fox crossing the road right in front of us.”
Photo by Indigo
Jangles: A BIG Fish Story
Written and illustrated by David Shannon
A boy tries to catch an enormous magical fish with an equally big reputation for wiliness—and a collection of lures and hooks dangling from his jaw to prove it. The fish treats the boy to a tour of his underwater lair and helps him to understand how one kind turn deserves another.
Isaac’s thoughts: “I would like to have a fishing rod of my own, but no one has bought me one yet.” (hint, hint, Isaac’s family…)
Photo by Indigo
Hattie & Hudson
Written and illustrated by Chris Van Dusen
After a quiet girl and a shy lake serpent become friends, they need to convince the adults in the community that although Hudson is big, he’s no monster. The illustrations fill every page with bold colour, capturing the characters’ emotions and often giving a Hudson-eye view of the lake.
Isaac’s thoughts: (as Hudson rises out of the water to look down at the lake): “Wow! He’s huge! If I was there, I’d run away as fast as I could. Unless my mom and my dad were with me. Then I might stay.”
Photo by Indigo
The Winter Visitors
Written and illustrated by Karel Hayes
Told almost exclusively in pictures, this is a Goldilocks-in-reverse story about a family of bears who make themselves at home in a cottage after its owners leave for the winter. They invite their forest friends for a party, and then everyone beds down for a long winter nap. A hurried cleanup erases all but a few traces of the festivities, and the bears escape just before the family returns.
Isaac and Fiona’s thoughts: Little sister Fiona joined us for this one. In their enthusiasm to examine the illustrations, they pressed in on both sides of me, Fiona tumbling over the arm of her chair into my lap. They grinned and giggled as I pointed out what was happening: “Who’s this up on the hill, waiting for the family to leave? Look—they’re using the canoe for a toboggan! Will the family notice the empty honey jar? Oh, no—the family is coming back! Will the bears get away in time?”
