The Real Boat by Marina Aromshtam
Published by Templar Books on January 8th 2019
ISBN: 1536202770
Pages: 64
Goodreads

Translated from Russian, this imaginative picture book  is a modern fable about the importance of striving for your dreams and moving forward, no matter how difficult the journey may be.

This nautical adventures begins with a tiny paper boat floating in a little pond.  The paper boat was happy and content  until a duck and a frog question that he is a “real” boat. The duck talks about seeing “real boats” sailing on the ocean. The little boat  has never seen the ocean and sets out to find it. The waterways that lead to the ocean get larger and larger as do the boats that the paper boat encounters on his way. The adventure takes a turn for the worse ,when finally at the ocean, he encounters a storm which causes him to sink . Fortunately, he is rescued by a diver from a research boat . The diver brings him to the sea captain who is amazed at the little boat for sailing so far.  The sea captain declares the little boat  a  true seafarer and a real boat. He then  names him Intrepid. and places him inside a glass bottle with his name adorned on the bottle.. The “real boat” is now truly happy. The colorful and imaginative mixed-media illustrations demand your full attention and aptly convey the exciting voyage to the sea.  The illustrations are both whimsical and realistic  throughout the story. This book would be of particular interest to children who are interested in boats with many different vessels included from the simple rowboat to  a naval fleet destroyer and many other in-between. Both the author and illustrator live in Russia  and this Russian translation should please children everywhere.  A strong addition to any library and at the very least a cream consideration.

 

Reviewed by Terri Bauld, Louis T. Graves Memorial Public Library, Kennebunkport, ME