The Baker by the Sea

K-Gr 4–The baker’s son wants to make a difference in his town, but how? As his quaint town survives on resources from the sea, he idolizes the fishermen and the hard work they do. He wishes to be a fisherman when he grows up, and asks his father, a baker, why he did not become one. As the story progresses, his father explains that many people in the town have important jobs to do and that they all rely on each other. He stresses the importance of working together for the whole town to strive. Children may relate to the baker’s son and his belief that some jobs look more glamorous than others. The author’ note at the beginning explains the motivation for the book, which will surely strike a chord with readers. The illustrations, using a minimum of colors and creative pencil and ink drawings, complement and enhance the tale. The story unfolds slowly and deliberately but rewards careful readers. This would make a nice story hour pairing with Matt de la Peña’s Last Stop on Market Street.