Bye Land, Bye Sea

by René Spencer, Rodolfo Montalvo, Rodolfo Montalvo (Illustrator)

Overview

Two children from different backgrounds show that friendship has no language in this epic bilingual story about being lost and finding a friend who understands.

I'm lost.

Soy naufrago.

A boy and a girl lost at sea run into each other on an island, but they quickly realize there is a huge barrier between them. They speak two different languages. Hesitant and unsure, they must figure out how to connect despite their differences, if they want to find a way home.

Dynamic picture book creators René Spencer and Rodolfo Montalvo join forces in this powerful picture book about connection and the perseverance of friendship.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781250246721
Publisher:	Roaring Brook Press
Publication date:	04/30/2024
Pages:	40
Sales rank:	320,315
Product dimensions:	11.10(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.40(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

As a kid, René Spencer developed a love for nature, art, travel, and foreign languages. She grew up speaking English at home and learned French in school before living and studying in Paris, France. When she is not busy working on picture books, you may find her watching movies from distant lands, reading, hiking, or taking care of bees.

Rodolfo Montalvo is an illustrator/writer who grew up in Southern California speaking mostly Spanish at home and English at school. Today, whether on land, at sea, or in the air, Rodolfo is always working on a story, a drawing, a painting, or some kind of art project. He is the illustrator of the popular picture book Dear Dragon, written by Josh Funk.

Rodolfo Montalvo is an illustrator/writer who grew up in Southern California speaking mostly Spanish at home and English at school. Today, whether on land, at sea, or in the air, Rodolfo is always working on a story, a drawing, a painting, or some kind of art project. He is the illustrator of the popular picture book Dear Dragon, written by Josh Funk.

Editorial Reviews

*Three starred reviews!*

★ "A radiant tale of adventure and friendship." — Kirkus Reviews, starred review

★ "Text and artwork together create a sense of an adventurous dream, making this a perfect fit for a bedtime story or lapsit." — Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books (BCCB), starred review

★ "Simple, meaningful text alternates between Spanish and English, exposing readers to both languages, without translations." — Horn Book Magazine, starred review

From the Publisher

★ 2024-01-20
A boy on land and a girl at sea overcome language barriers to become friends.

A girl wearing a white, wide-brimmed hat steers a boat, worry across her face. “I’m lost.” A boy in a red-orange cap holding a conch shell on a string stares out at the sea. “Soy náufrago.” She sees land and heads toward it. He spots the boat, hoping for a friend rather than a foe. As each child notices the other, their mutual trepidation leads to an unexpected initial encounter. “AAAAAAAH!” “¡AAAAAAA!” Both children, however, soon realize they have nothing to fear. Amid island backdrops brimming with rich blues, greens, and oranges, the girl and the boy take tentative steps toward one another. A problem: She speaks English; he speaks Spanish. To communicate, the girl and the boy explore the island and share a little of their worlds. Eventually, the children voyage off the island in the boat, but a sudden storm splits them up. Will the friends reunite? Restrained and spare but potent text whips up an exceptional tale of kinship, where English and Spanish words often converge in meaning. Montalvo’s watercolor, gouache, and graphite artwork brims with verve, leveraging unusual perspectives, thoughtful frames, and vivid tones that culminate in a sublime gatefold. The girl reads as white, while the boy has light brown skin and is cued Latine.

A radiant tale of adventure and friendship. (Picture book. 4-8)

Kirkus Reviews