Paddle-to-the-Sea: A Caldecott Honor Award Winner – A Classic Adventure About a Canoe's Journey Through Waterways for Kids (Ages 10-12) (Sandpiper Books)

This book illustrates the most natural way to teach geography to children. It is an older book and there is a reason it is still around. It's "flowing" story begins from one boy's curiosity about where the water in streams go. After hearing the explanation of how rivers from his area flow into the Great Lakes and eventually into the Atlantic Ocean, he crafts a small sea worthy, wooden canoe, places a miniature Native American passenger in it, and launches the canoe from a melting ice flow. The journey begins in one of the most northern streams in America. "Paddle to the Sea", the name of his canoe travels along the water's edge, where the tides and storms direct. While passing settlements and landscapes, both beautiful and serene, as well as wild and treacherous, the little canoe encounters many adventures. Children will sit on the edge of their seats as the vivid words capture their imaginations and they enjoy the lively exciting illustrations. "Paddle to the Sea" is an 'accessible' taste of the past, and a little flavor of what our country is like. The concepts in this book are 'accessible' to children as children learn best through pictures, whether it is through the words in the story that paint pictures, or the vivid illustrations. This book has both. "Paddle to the Sea"is a well told adventure that will capture the attention of any 8 year old child or older. Parents will enjoy sharing this book with their child as well.

This is a terrific book. My father used to read 2-3 pages a night to me and my sister. It is lavishly illustrated and it is a heartwarming story. I bought this copy for the 3 youngsters who live down the street. I am sure they will love it.

Outstanding book. The art work keeps up with the writing.

A very engaging account of a young Canadian who carves a foot long canoe with his Paddle Person, adds ballast and rudder to it, and sets it in the snow on a hill above the river between Lake Nipigon and the northern 'point' of Lake Superior with a carved message on its bottom, "PLEASE PUT ME BACK IN THE WATER--I AM PADDLE TO THE SEA, where it slides into the river with the melting snow and into Lake Superior. Holling Clancy Holling crafts a delightful tale of Paddle-to-the-Sea's four-year-long journey which ended at sea with a French fishing boat, father and son. Heart-felt waterway and geographical descriptions and accounts of people along the way. Copyrighted in 1941 and renewed in 1969. It thrilled the heart of this Michigan girl.

This was a favorite story for my children! Read it countless times. Then someone borrowed it & did not return so had to purchase another

The best heartwarming story with excitement and dangerous situations about a carved toy canoe, Paddle-to-the-Sea, making its years-long way from Canada thru the Great Lakes and beyond. There are interesting, informative illustrations in the margins, too. A wonderful classic in all ways. For children about 7-12 who enjoy books.

Love this book. Read it to my kids now sharing it with my grandson. Great way to teach geography for homeschoolers.

One of the most beautifully illustrated, unique children’s books out there. Just bought this for a friend who is having a baby