I's the B'y: The Beloved Folk Song

by Lauren Soloy (Illustrator)

Overview

For kids who love to sing and dance: this vibrant picture book shares lyrics from a classic folk song about community, culture, and the seaside.

• Rhyming lyrics are easy to read and memorize and fun for the whole family.
• Perfect for kids aged 3 to 8 who love dancing, singing, and the ocean.
• The history of this famous ballad is explored in vivid illustrations!

I’s the b’y that builds the boat,
And I’s the b’y that sails her!
I’s the b’y that catches the fish
And takes ’em home to Liza.

“I’s the B’y” is a decades-old folk song that originated in Newfoundland but has been sung and danced to the world over. In this gorgeous picture book, Maritime artist and children’s writer Lauren Soloy honors the song and its birthplace with rich, captivating illustrations of bobbing boats, leaping humpback whales, violin-playing fish, dancing people, starry skies, and stormy seas. Full of undeniable energy and joy, this spirited picture book will have kids singing, dancing, and learning all about Newfoundland.

Includes:

• Sheet music so budding musicians can play along. 
• A note from illustrator Lauren Soloy about the fascinating history of “I’s the B’y,” its distinctive words and phrases, and life in modern-day Newfoundland.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781771648332
Publisher:	Greystone Books
Publication date:	05/31/2022
Pages:	48
Product dimensions:	9.00(w) x 9.00(h) x (d)
Age Range:	3 - 8 Years

About the Author

Lauren Soloy is an author and illustrator whose books include When Emily was Small and Etty Darwin and the Four Pebble Problem. She lives in a 140-year-old house in the wilds of Nova Scotia with her librarian husband, two curious children, an ever-expanding collection of books, two beehives, and one cat.

Editorial Reviews

"Clap your hands and dance along to a traditional Newfoundland folk melody… an inviting version of a Canadian song that will resonate—and reverberate.”
—Kirkus Reviews

“An exuberant book that captures and celebrates the character and culture of Newfoundland and is sure to get you and the little ones tapping your feet.”
—Hakai Magazine

From the Publisher

2022-03-30
Clap your hands and dance along to a traditional Newfoundland folk melody.

Newfoundlanders, along with diverse creatures, happily join their hands, hoofs, fins, and feathers for a traditional and much-loved folk song/dance. After the boy, or b’y, catches fish, he brings them home to Liza as a guitar-strumming player and an accordionist are joined on stage by two more musicians—a fish and a moose. The villagers, human and animal, form circles and dance to the lively beat. All then enjoy a hearty meal as the catch is laid out to preserve and dry. A cheerful refrain accompanies the dancers, who now form a big circle as puffins frolic in the air and on the rocks. The setting then moves to the shoreline, and twilight brings a joyful conclusion to the day’s festivities. A note from the illustrator provides an explanation for the local customs and word usage. The colorful, utterly exuberant illustrations—digitally created, though they have a smudgy, hand-painted feel—are an enticing introduction to the music, which can be found on YouTube for those curious. Swirling text complements the upbeat lyrics that celebrate the Canadian island. The locals vary in skin tone; the titular b’y is brown-skinned. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

An inviting version of a Canadian song that will resonate—and reverberate. (musical notation) (Picture book. 4-7)

Kirkus Reviews