Synopsis
This lyrical picture book tells the story of a child and her father making a night crossing of Lake Superior on their sailboat. As first mate, the child's job is to watch for ships, lights, land, and logs while the autopilot steers the craft. Above, the Big Dipper, North Star, Milky Way, and Northern Lights illuminate the night sky. And as dawn breaks, the horizon begins to glow and land appears, a black line between sky and sea. Jean Pendziwol's sensitive text and Nicolas Debon's striking images capture the mystery and beauty of this adventure on the world's largest freshwater lake.
Janice DeLong - Children's Literature
Navigating Lake Superior in the darkest hours of night provides adventure for a brave little girl and her dad. Well prepared for her responsibilities, the young narrator explains to readers the importance of watching for hazards such as other ships, and floating logs that may be lost on the inland sea. Dad points out to his assistant celestial markers such as the Big Dipper and the North Star. After tending to his duties, Dad goes below and the diminutive sailor has the midnight sea to herself. Debon's use of motion, depth, and pitch of waves is impressive as readers become a part of the eerily lonely voyage. Pendziwol accompanies the swell of the water by repeating the line, "And I was alone on the sea." A powerful story of water, night, and dawning light, this is a memorable tale with sparse text and almost sinister illustrations. This volume has value as a father-daughter story, a sailing narrative, and perhaps most importantly as an example of the way an artist creates mood with just the stroke of a brush. 2004, Groundwood, Ages 8 to 10.