Published by Orchard Books
Summary: The illustration facing the title page shows a woman tracing a route on a map with her finger while her two children look on. Outside the window, her husband is loading a canoe on the top of her car. We never learn the woman’s name, but we follow her journey as she travels the length of the Hudson River in a canoe. We learn what she eats, how she camps, and what animals she sees along the way. We watch as she struggles through rapids, narrowly avoids a tugboat collision, and capsizes in a storm before finally reaching her destination: New York City. After paddling the length of the city, she dreams of other adventures, but knows that right now she belongs back with the family who is greeting her on the shore. Includes an author’s note (that begins “I did not canoe down the Hudson River.”), a note on the Hudson River, and a list of additional resources. 48 pages; grades K-5.
Pros: Here’s one more for the pile of Caldecott contenders I’m gathering up to share with my students. Readers will be inspired to try an adventure of their own after reading the details of this one and seeing the gorgeous landscapes.
Cons: There’s a fair amount of text, written in a quiet style with plenty of details; while this is certainly not a bad thing, it may not grab readers right away.
A Kids Book A Day 