These cottage-themed picture books are kid-approved

Me and You and the Red Canoe

Written by Jean E. Pendziwol, illustrated by Phil

Two young people meet outside their tent at dawn for an early morning fishing trip. Gliding along in their canoe, they meet animals just waking up on the lake and bring back their catch for a breakfast feast. The water colour illustrations and sensory language create a gentle mood that matches the quiet of a lake at sunrise.

Isaac’s thoughts: “We have so many canoes and kayaks and other boats at my grandparents’ cottage, it looks like the First Nations people are going on a mission! I’ve heard loons lots of times, but I’ve never seen one. Once, my sister Fiona and I saw a fox crossing the road right in front of us.”

Jangles: A BIG Fish Story

Written and illustrated by David Shannon

A boy tries to catch an enormous magical fish with an equally big reputation for wiliness—and a collection of lures and hooks dangling from his jaw to prove it. The fish treats the boy to a tour of his underwater lair and helps him to understand how one kind turn deserves another.

Isaac’s thoughts: “I would like to have a fishing rod of my own, but no one has bought me one yet.” (hint, hint, Isaac’s family…)

Hattie & Hudson

Written and illustrated by Chris Van Dusen

After a quiet girl and a shy lake serpent become friends, they need to convince the adults in the community that although Hudson is big, he’s no monster. The illustrations fill every page with bold colour, capturing the characters’ emotions and often giving a Hudson-eye view of the lake.

Isaac’s thoughts: (as Hudson rises out of the water to look down at the lake): “Wow! He’s huge! If I was there, I’d run away as fast as I could. Unless my mom and my dad were with me. Then I might stay.”

The Winter Visitors

Written and illustrated by Karel Hayes

Told almost exclusively in pictures, this is a Goldilocks-in-reverse story about a family of bears who make themselves at home in a cottage after its owners leave for the winter. They invite their forest friends for a party, and then everyone beds down for a long winter nap. A hurried cleanup erases all but a few traces of the festivities, and the bears escape just before the family returns.

Isaac and Fiona’s thoughts: Little sister Fiona joined us for this one. In their enthusiasm to examine the illustrations, they pressed in on both sides of me, Fiona tumbling over the arm of her chair into my lap. They grinned and giggled as I pointed out what was happening: “Who’s this up on the hill, waiting for the family to leave? Look—they’re using the canoe for a toboggan! Will the family notice the empty honey jar? Oh, no—the family is coming back! Will the bears get away in time?”