Paddle-to-the-Sea

In twenty-seven brief "chapters" - each of which consists of a single page of text, decorated with black and white illustrations, and paired with a full-page color painting - Holling Clancy Holling sets out the story of "Paddle-to-the-Sea," a miniature wooden canoe carved by a young Indian boy in Nipigon country, Canada, and then sent out on a long journey toward the sea. As the canoe travels on its way, it journeys through all five of the Great Lakes, with detours and unexpected stops along the way, passing through many hands, and experiencing many years of adventure before eventually finding its way out the St. Lawrence River, and eventually, into the open sea.

An unexpectedly moving book, Paddle-to-the-Sea is both educational and show more engrossing, taking young readers on a geographic tour of the Great Lakes region of North America, from the rural Canadian wilderness north of Lake Superior, through all the various interconnected waterways - Lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron, Eerie, Ontario, and the rivers which connect them - and finally to the sea, while also presenting the many human activities, from farming to heavy industry, that surround these important bodies of water. Chosen as a Caldecott Honor Book in 1942, it has a great deal of visual appeal, particularly the full-color, full-page paintings. One especially nice detail is the comparison of the shape of each lake to some figure or object - I never noticed that Lake Superior looks like a wolf's head, Lake Michigan like a squash, or Lake Huron like a trapper with his pack upon his back!

I was a little afraid, going in, that the depiction of the Indian boy who created Paddle-to-the-Sea would be egregiously racist (as is so often the case, with vintage children's books including Native American themes), but although there is certainly an element of the "mystically spiritual Indian guide" in his depiction (and some rather choppy statements, that could be interpreted as stereotypical "Indian" speech), I think there is also just a healthy does of curious and creative boyhood in him. Fanciful though it may be, I found myself thinking, while reading this story, that the release of Paddle-to-the-Sea, and his subsequent journey, could be interpreted as a metaphor for our words and actions - how they go out into the world, and affect the people around us; and how, if crafted with care, they might do great things, and connect us to people far away.

It's that sense of connection, that Paddle-to-the-Sea brings, between disparate peoples in far-flung places, that most moved me in Holling's book, and led to my four-star rating. This is an advanced picture-book, so I would only recommend it to upper elementary school students and above, who are capable of reading more extended texts. I would also only recommend it with the caveat that the depiction of the Indian boy, although not egregiously offensive in my estimation, might still feel condescending to some, and be problematic for them. With that caveat understood, I'd say this makes a lovely introduction to the geography of the Great Lakes region, some fifty years ago, and still, to a great extend, today. show less

Perhaps the living-est of living books. Not only is the story engaging and charming, each page is full of information about the Great Lakes, the cities that line their shores, and the commerce that is so vital to many of those cities, not to mention the natural world that is also present here. None of it is boring (at least not to nerdy parents, but my 5yo also seemed engaged in each page).

I wouldn’t try to finish it in one sitting, there’s so much to look at and enjoy on each page that 2-3 chapters (pages) at a time is good.

I found this book the day before Bay Books, an independent bookseller, closed its doors in Concord, California. Perhaps I should say that the book found me. Why would I buy a children's book? It must have been the local book dragon whispering in my ear, for I am grateful for this great find.

The author takes us on a trip that starts in the great northern wastes of Canada, and we follow the carved toy through the wilderness and down in to the Great Lakes of the States. Along the way, we find out what the inside of a sawmill looked like and how Lake Superior resembles a wolf's head. Yes, a wolf's head.

If the kids want to have more read to them, tell them to go to sleep so you can read the book yourself in peace and quiet. It was sad to show more see yet another local bookstore leave us, but it brought me great happiness with my last purchase.

Book Season = Autumn show less

49 months - I really enjoyed reading this with my daughter. I was expecting it to be about a real person paddling the Great Lakes but this idea is much more creative. A great geography lesson and lots of other learning too. Great vocabulary about nature. It would be fantastic to have a newer version of this book with more vivid colors in the illustrations. The art style is very much Group of Seven-esque. A good story to introduce my little dual citizen to natural connection and resources the two countries share.

I'd heard of this book for ages but had never taken the time to savor it. I'm glad I did - it's a charming story of a journey, kind-hearted people, and the natural beauty all around us. I can now see why so many people love it!

This is an enchanting children's picture book that takes readers on a remarkable journey from the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean. The story centers around a small carved wooden figure named Paddle, as he navigates through various waterways, encountering diverse landscapes and communities along the way. With beautiful illustrations and rich details, Holling captures the beauty and power of nature, while also teaching important lessons about geography, ecology, and the interconnectedness of our world. This book has received numerous accolades, including the Caldecott Honor and the Lewis Carroll Shelf Award.

Thoroughly suspenseful with clear and graphic descriptions, the author takes us down and around the Great Lakes in a toy canoe, whittled by an Indigenous boy. The canoe receives "good medicine in his father's lodge", and is like a magical amulet set out to explore the Great Lakes and the sea. It allows the boy to experience what he could not through a dedication. The canoe's adventure is splendidly illustrated in color and their are b/w sketches sparingly placed along the borders of pages. They are maps and diagrams explaining each obstacle in the difficult journey. A great book for read alouds. reading level is 3rd grade+. Excellent to use with social studies units in American History or animal/forest/eco unit. Caldecott Honor Winner show more 1941

Published same decade 1942:
Have You Seen Tom Thumb by Mabel Leigh Hunt show less