River

About this book

Caldecott Honor winner Elisha Cooper invites readers to grab their oars and board a canoe down a river exploration filled with adventure and beauty.

A breathtaking adventure as a traveler and her canoe begin their trek down the Hudson River. In a mountain lake, the canoe gently enters the water's edge, paddling toward the river. The nautical journey begins. She is alone, far from home.Three hundred miles stretch in front of her. A faraway destination, a wild plan. And the question: can she do this?In Cooper's flowing prose and stunning watercolor scenes, readers can follow along the trek as the woman and her canoe explore the wildlife, flora and fauna, and urban landscape at the river's edge. Through perilous weather and river rushes, the canoe and her captain survive and maneuver their way down the river back home.River is an outstanding introduction to seeing the world through the eyes of a young explorer and a great picture book for the STEAM curriculum. Maps and information about the Hudson River and famous landmarks are included in the back of the book.

Reviews

Praise for River:

A Publishers Weekly "Best Book of 2019"

A Kirkus Reviews "Best Book of 2019"

A 2019 Horn Book Fanfare selection

New York Times Notable Picture Book of 2019

Washington Post Best Children’s Book of 2019

"This stunningly illustrated account of a woman's solo canoe trip down the Hudson is a remarkable example of the art of the picture book... Cooper's oversize gem is for the ages, and for people of all ages." -- The New York Times

* "At the conclusion of this beautiful book, readers will feel they have traveled a journey themselves... Expansive content impressively and beautifully presented." -- Kirkus Reviews, starred review

* "Evocative... An author's note, sources, and information about the river round out this beautiful book." -- Booklist, starred review

* "Cooper's quiet, fluid present-tense prose is perfectly suited to the rhythm of a river... Let the armchair travel commence!" -- Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, starred review

* "Cooper's watercolor and pencil sketches [illuminate] the details of the trip with a rhythmic mix of vignettes and wide landscapes." -- The Horn Book, starred review

* "Gloriously expansive and fluid pencil and watercolor artwork... A marvelous vehicle for nature lovers, armchair travelers, and aspiring boaters and explorers." -- School Library Journal, starred review

* "Expansive [and] beautifully rendered." -- Publishers Weekly, starred review

Praise for Big Cat, Little Cat:

A Caldecott Honor Book

* "With quiet grace, Cooper delivers the message that love persists through loss." -- Publishers Weekly, starred review

* "Cooper's gentle tale of the loss of a feline friend is perfect bibliotherapy for those who have lost a loved pet." -- Kirkus Reviews, starred review

* "Kids won't have to be cat lovers to find this endearing and quietly reassuring, while young cat owners will want to tell the tale of their own feline friends." -- Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, starred review

* "A gentle, loving look at the life cycle of pets; young readers will be able to gain confidence in retelling the story using the text and the pictures." -- School Library Journal, starred review

* "Cooper's thick black lines produce figures full of kinetic energy and personality. The circular nature of the story is beautifully reinforced by the repetition in both art and text, and the result is at once realistic and comforting." -- The Horn Book, starred review

Praise for 8: An Animal Alphabet:

* "Cooper's loose watercolor images are arranged harmoniously against spacious white backgrounds... The heavy paper will withstand repeated viewings, which are guaranteed. Don't get behind the eight ball: order now; it's great fun." -- Kirkus Reviews, starred review

* "It's a feast of fauna!" -- Booklist, starred review

* "Illustrated with joy, this is an alphabet book to pore over, worth adding to any collection." -- School Library Journal, starred review

* "A skillfull blending of counting and matching elements into an animal-themed abecedary." -- Publishers Weekly, starred review

Praise for Train:

* "A poetic, beautifully conceived book." -- Booklist, starred review

* "The loose watercolor-and-pencil artwork hums with activity and energy." -- Kirkus Reviews, starred review

* "Cooper's signature sun-bleached watercolors beautifully convey human achievements and nature's grandeur through both detail and a range of scale." -- Publishers Weekly, starred review

Praise for Farm:

* "It's as thorough and pleasing an introduction to a farm as one could ask of a picture book." -- The Horn Book Magazine, starred review

* "The graceful text and serenely stunning illustrations create a portrait both reverent and realistic." -- Publishers Weekly, starred review

Praise for Beach:

Society of Illustrators Gold Medal (2006)

"Cooper's portrayal of a day at the shore is generous with such minutiae; his fondness for his subject is evident and infectious." -- School Library Journal