Beautiful illustrations with vibrant and immersive colours. I would definitely jump into that boat! Looking forward to seeing more of Andrew's adventures! -- Mariajo Ilustrajo, creator of 'Flooded' A little mouse sets out to explore the world in a boat, encountering volcanoes, ice and storms, before finding his way home again. -- Charlotte Eyre * The Bookseller Children's Previews September * One day, a mouse finds a boat outside his front door and decides to climb aboard. Before he knows it, the boat carries him out to sea and takes him off around the world. I love the aesthetic of the little paper boat - such a fragile thing to carry such a great adventure. The big and bold illustrations tell the story beautifully and capture all the jeopardy and wonder the little mouse feels on his expedition. The repetition of the title is really enjoyable to read aloud with young children, and it's very reassuring when he does eventually find his way home. -- Alice Ellerby * Juno * Oh! Look, a Boat! is a delightful picture book that is full of childhood curiosity. The story begins with a young mouse stumbling upon a boat and embarking on an exciting adventure. Andrew J. Ross has created a simple story that follows the mouse on his journey and expertly uses words and images to transform the ordinary into the extraordinary. With every turn of the page, the mouse's vivid imagination brings the boat to life, creating scenes of humour and mischief. Ross's text is simple yet captivating, and includes lots of repetitive phrasing that invite young readers to actively engage with the story. The accessible language makes it a perfect read-aloud choice, encouraging participation and anticipation as the plot unfolds. This repetitive structure means that this is an excellent text to be used by teachers and parents/caregivers to develop language skills in early readers. Ross's illustrations are a highlight of the book and include vibrant colours that beautifully complement the text. His attention to detail immerses readers in the imaginative world that the mouse creates full of pirates, storms and contrasting landscapes. Each illustration gives visual cues that enrich the storytelling and provide adults with opportunities to support young readers prediction skills and generate discussions. As well as being fun and engaging, Oh! Look, a Boat! touches on themes of creativity, exploration, and the ability to find joy in simple things. It encourages children to see the extraordinary in the everyday, sparking their imaginations in the process. It is a lovely blend of engaging text and artwork. A book that children will want to return to again and again, making it a valuable addition to any home and Early Years and Key Stage 1 classroom library. -- Karan Vickers-Hulse * Just Imagine * Text is minimal in this wonderfully illustrated story about a mouse who finds a boat outside his home, climbs aboard and sets off on a series of accidental adventures that include navigating whitewater waves, tumbling over a waterfall, dealing with storms at sea, passing a pirate ship, and narrowly missing being swamped by massive boats and freighters. Through days and nights of travel and being lost, the mouse takes a keen interest in his surroundings, occasionally exclaiming "Oh! Look!" as he sails past islands whose animal inhabitants take an equally keen interest in him and his boat. Our fearless little mouse's trip eventually comes to a comforting end - one that delivers a final, humorous surprise. First published by Éditions Amaterra in France in 2023 as Oh! Regarde, un bateau!, this book will appeal to more than just the very young, thanks to the Toronto-based author/illustrator's colourful art. -- Bernie Goedhart * Books for Kids: Some standouts from 2024 that merit inclusion in any youngsters home library, Montreal Gazette *
