Little Blue House Beside The Sea

The little blue house in this board book could be overlooking any ocean, and the narrator could be any child anywhere, gazing out over the waters, thinking about all the places she could go and imagining other little blue houses on other shores, with other children gazing back. This book’s bright primary colors are perfect for babies, and its rhymed couplets are perfect for read-aloud magic.
Jo Ellen Bogart (Guelph, Ontario) has written 20 books for young readers, including The White Cat and the Monk, which was named a Best Poetry Book by the National Council of Teachers of English. Her bestselling books include Jeremiah Learns to Read, Daniel’s Dog, and Gifts, several of which have been included on Canadian Children’s Book Centre Our Choice lists.

Carme Lemniscates (Barcelona, Spain) is the author, illustrator, and designer of several critically acclaimed children’s books including Trees, Birds, the upcoming Seeds (Candlewick), and El jardín mágico (Ekaré), for which she won the 2017 SCBWI Crystal Kite Award. She has also illustrated I Am a Warrior Goddess, Kate Coombs’s BabyLit Little Poets board book series, and Hillary and Chelsea Clinton’s Grandma’s Gardens (Philomel). You can visit Carme at https://lemniscates.com.
“A fantastic addition to any children’s library.” - School Library Journal (starred review)

“A truly wonderful tribute to seaside living and the beauty and fragility of the ocean.” - Youth Services Book Review (starred review)

“In this charming read-aloud, whales and puffins are rendered in unique monotype textures against sweeping mixed media land- scapes to capture the wild seasons and changing weather.” - Foreword Reviews (starred review)

“Evocative and charming.” - Kirkus Reviews

“An effective portrayal of a child’s connection to her home and the sea.” - Booklist

“A wee redhead in a matching knit vest and pom-pommed beanie observes the world around them, taking pleasure in the raging storms and sunny flowers, in this charming read-aloud with an underlying message about global connectivity and environmental awareness. Rhyming couplets tell the tale of a well-loved seaside cottage on a rocky northern shore; whales and puffins are rendered in unique monotype textures against sweeping mixed media landscapes to capture the wild seasons and changing weather. STARRED REVIEW
- PALLAS GATES MCCORQUODALE, Foreward Reviews

“PreS-1–Who wouldn’t want to live in a cozy house beside the sea? Through singsong rhyme and vivid imagery that invoke the senses, Bogart and Lemniscates have created a captivating tale of a young girl and the natural beauty that exists just outside of her home by the sea. She watches the boats go sailing by and sees fishermen and puffins keep busy trying to catch fish. Delightful images of humpback whales at play are followed by the light of the moon and the lighthouse towers being reflected in the big blue sea. Lemniscates brings readers into the young girl’s world with vibrant colors, subtle nods to finger painting, and earthy tones that will beguile readers of all ages. A fantastic addition to any children’s library. - Katie Callahan, ¬Montgomery County Public Sch., MD, School Library Journal

“A little girl tells of walking home to her “little blue house beside the sea.” Every day, she ambles along the cliff path, looking out at the boats and observing nature all around her: the tall grasses waving, the puffins waddling on the hills, and the whales playing in the ocean. At night, the moon rises, creating a glistening path on the water, and sometimes the lighthouse flashes its warning to ships. When a storm is brewing, the girl hurries to shelter in her tiny house. As the simply written, rhyming text says, “There is no place so dear to me / as that little blue house beside the sea.” In a note, Bogart recalls enjoying the Gulf of Mexico as a child and, as an adult, looking out over the North Atlantic from Newfoundland, the book’s setting. Using monotype, watercolor,acrylic, and digital elements, the mixed-media collage artwork offers scenes with strong lines,distinctive shapes, and some striking color combinations. An effective portrayal of a child’s connection to both her home and the sea.” - Carolyn Phelan, Booklist

“A solitary child rejoices in the special beauty of a seaside home. Simple rhyming couplets and colorful, textured collages make this book evocative and charming, even for children who may not be familiar with the ocean. This young child seems to live independently in the titular house; while improbable, this is a fantasy that many readers will find appealing. In a final note, the author describes her connection with Newfoundland, where the little blue house of the title is located, and her fascination with the idea that the endless ocean could connect friends “who love the ocean as I do, and want to keep it safe, alive, and beautiful.” A reassuringly fresh and simple take on nature in a complex world.” - Kirkus Review