A boy imagines his day, and his father’s day, in a small town by the sea. He plays with a friend, eats a baloney sandwich, runs an errand for his mother, looks out at the ocean, while his father works down in the mine, just as his own father did, and as the boy likely will too. Their story, set in Nova Scotia in the ’50s, has a wonderful depth and beauty to its simplicity. Are Canadians eligible to win the Caldecott?* If so, Town Is by the Sea would get my early vote. (3 and up)
—Tom Nissley, Phinney Books, Seattle, WA
If you’re stopping by Phinney Books on Independent Bookstore Day, you can pick this up! Or you can find Independent Bookstores near you, wherever you’ll be 4/29 or any other day, and get this lovely book.
*Alas, the Caldecott is only for US residents… but we love this book, too!