In the Red Canoe

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About In The Red Canoe

Review “Quiet, reflective, and steadily paced, this reads aloud well. The rhymes are smooth...and the rhythm steady, with a nice surprise at the end...A pleasant, peaceful reminder of the wonders that can be found in the natural world, just right for bedtime.” ― Kirkus Reviews“A girl and her grandfather greet the magic of nature in the bow of their canoe in this delicate and elegant tale...Bifano's full-bleed gouache illustrations are vivid but also mirror the gentleness of the text with soft colors and flowing lines...A beautiful introduction to nature that will succeed in storytimes and one-on-one readings alike.” ― School Library Journal“A warm story of intergenerational companionship and nature's everyday delights.” ― Publishers Weekly“This book is perfect for sharing with young children during the late afternoon or evening when the weather is ripe for canoeing.” ― Canadian Children's Book News“This would be a perfect story to read before bedtime or a quiet time with its rhythmic, soothing language…The illustration and description made me feel as if I was there with them in the canoe. This story clearly depicts Canadian lake life and would be an excellent addition to a school library and for a read-aloud.” ― Resource Links“The two make lasting memories in this quietly satisfying portrayal of a day spent together on the lake.” ― Booklist“Told in gentle rhyming text, this is a loving account…of a serene canoe trip.” ― The Horn Book Online Product Description Fish and herons, turtles and dragonflies, beaver lodges and lily pads―a multitude of wonders enchant both the child narrator and any other nature lovers along for the ride in this tender, beautifully illustrated picture book.Baby ducklings ride their mama’s back; an osprey rises with a silver fish clutched in her talons; a loon cries in a star-flecked night. Rhythmic, rhyming quatrains carry the story forward in clean paddle strokes of evocative imagery. In the Red Canoe celebrates the bond between grandparent and grandchild and invites nature lovers of all ages along for the ride. From School Library Journal PreS-Gr 2—A girl and her grandfather greet the magic of nature in the bow of their red canoe in this delicate and elegant tale. The story moves forward with rhythm that echoes the noise of a paddled canoe, with vivid similes (green lily pads like floating hearts), melodic alliteration (a slippery silver prize), and rhyming quatrains. Readers are introduced to different animals, like the loon and osprey. Bifano's full-bleed gouache illustrations are vivid but also mirror the gentleness of the text with soft colors and flowing lines. Her use of a variety of perspectives (looking upward from underwater, floating alongside lily pads, flying in the claws of a rising osprey) add to the book's magical and dreamlike qualities, and her depictions of the girl and her grandfather evoke a sweetness expressed by the text. VERDICT A beautiful introduction to nature that will succeed in storytimes and one-on-one readings alike.—Laura Lintz, Henrietta Public Library, Rochester, NY Book Description A magical, watery world awaits. From the Inside Flap canoe, natural world, grandchild, grandparent, family, bonding, nostalgia, memory, animals, nature From the Back Cover canoe, natural world, grandchild, grandparent, family, bonding, nostalgia, memory, animals, nature About the Author Leslie A. Davidson has always been a writer, though it wasn't until she retired that she finally found time for the stories that had tapped on her consciousness throughout years of teaching and parenting. Leslie's writing celebrates the things that matter most to her―family, friendship and the natural world. In the Red Canoe was inspired by her husband's passion for quiet exploration of pristine lakes and rivers. He dreamed of sharing paddling adventures with his grandchildren but did not live long enough to realize that dream. In the Red Can