The Raft

My children are 10 & 7 years old and they were both captivated by both the story & beautiful illustrations! My son now wants to learn how to make a raft and take it around our pond.

As a young girl, I loved summers in upstate NY with my grandmother. This book - from the first illustration to the end - hurled me backward in time. I loved it. I used it as part of a group of river-related books in my Reading program for 3,4 and 5th graders. I loved reading it aloud to the students time and time again and they loved listening to it. Some of them chose to read it again by themselves. We put together a wonder mural of river life after reading this and all the other river-related books. It was a wonderful read for us all. My students were amazed at how the little boy could have any fun without a TV. The theme of enjoying nature was evident from the get-go and the illustrations gently reinforced the message.

The first time I read through this book, I found it a bit unbelievable--animals coming right up to the boy on his raft! But my second "viewing" showed the amazing paintings, the engaging storyline, and the full characters. Being a native to Wisconsin, I am a bit biased, but I think anyone anywhere will enjoy this book. I would share this story with lower elementary students so the pictures and subject matter can be fully appreciated.

LaMarche touches so many emotions with this wonderful story of relationships. Lovely illustrations speed one's heart into the deeper meaning of each page as the tale unfolds. If you ever had a Grama that was larger than life...this book is especially for you. An artist from soul to stern, this grandmother is a nurturer of true inner peace and dignity. Her young summer charge finds reluctance is a path not to tread. True friendship and understanding never comes to any of us who hurry...the essence of this book is soft, slow, true.

This is a short story, 32 large pages including text and illustrations. It is suitable for reading to a young child or group of children, or for slightly older children to read by themselves. The author/illustrator has done an outstanding job integrating text and large full-color illustrations to hold a child's interest. It is a story of summertime childhood adventures that children can easily relate to.