“Morning, a mountain lake. A traveler, a canoe. As she paddles out into the blustery middle of the lake, she turns for a last wave to the shore behind her. Her journey begins.”

River written and illustrated by Elisha Cooper is another great picture book to read as summer temperatures start to show up. If anything it will cool you off as most of the book takes place on the water, but it’s also a story that causes you to think of your next great adventure.

River is about a mother and wife who takes on the journey of traveling down the Hudson River. You see that it’s the Hudson from the map on the inside cover. Other than that the name of the river isn’t mentioned in the text, but even if you skip over the map you realize this as she arrives towards her destination - a lighthouse just off of New York City. The skyline Cooper beautifully illustrates gives it away.

The text is almost lyrical as you read without rhyming. It’s all description with a few pieces of dialogue here and there. The descriptions Cooper writes flow right along with his watercolor pieces of art. It reads and looks like a nature study journal. John Muir would be so proud and it makes my homeschool heart so happy to read with my own kids.

This isn’t the picture I wanted to post, but it’s available on Cooper’s website so I figured it’s okay to share this one and not take a picture of the illustration from the book and post that…copyright issues or something, right?

Speaking of homeschool! This book would make a great living book. Maybe as a free read for Year 1 (I’m speaking Charlotte Mason talk here) as you read Paddle-to-the-Sea because while it doesn’t get too teach-y, Cooper does explain how a lock works in order to get around a waterfall. He also gives awesome descriptions of the landscape and animals the main character observes. The map on the back-inside cover is a more detailed camp and includes where these animals were along with some of the landmarks. I would even say it shows how to do nature study.

“She opens her guidebook, then her sketchbook. All is quiet, but for the sh-sh-sh of pencil on paper. There is nothing in the world but her, the bird, this place.”

Cooper’s words are present-tense with many fragment sentences and this works because it allows the reader to be included on the journey and to get into the mind of the main character. Even as you read, your kids will join in on the well-made canoe, on the river, feeling the bumps, rain, and the sun’s rays.

Oh! Make sure to read the last pages of the book! The story is over, but Elisha Cooper includes some great backmatter. First, he explains that he has not taken this trip himself. This trip requires a “brave enough” canoer and he readily admits that this is not him. However, this trip has been accomplished by a few experienced travelers. He also lets you know that it would take about 20 days to complete. The second page is a note on the history of the Hudson River.

I hope you add River to your to-be-read stack for summer reading and include it on your Book Bingo Board for the Summer Read Aloud Challenge!

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Have you read this one? What did you think? If you haven't read this book yet & want to read it click on the image at the top of the post to order from Bookshop.org.

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