The artwork’s sun-bleached geometrical shapes have immediate visual impact. The story's theme centres on environmental damage and restoration and how relatively small human actions can help restore the status quo.

This is a children's picture book that I read to my twin boys. There is a few pages that has words on it, but the book is mostly pages of pictures only. The pictures are very pretty, and they have a lot of details. I feel if I was not there telling my boys what was going on my boys would not pick up what the book is trying to get them to see. They really did not love this book. I liked the message, and I loved the ending. I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher (Norton Young Readers) or author (Jerome Pumphrey and Jarrett Pumphrey) via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review about how I feel about this book, and I want to send a big Thank you to them for that.

This is a story to alert children of the consequences of throwing rubbish in the sea. In this book, you will also find pictures that show you how wonderful the ocean is, and also presenting a variety of fish and species in the sea. The pictures are simple but engaging. Additionally, this book can be used in order to raise discussions and questions around the environment and our role as part of a big ecosystem. This book is a lovely addition to your library.

A boy fishes far and wide with his grandmother in their boat. He grows up and goes out in the boat where there is more and more pollution in the sea. When a storm washes him and the boat up on an island, he starts a cleanup project and at the end of the book he is fishing with his own granddaughter. This book cherishes the links between generation with cookie cutter art and also reminds us to take care of our world. Loved it!

I really loved the conservation and environmental protection concept in this book. The words are simple yet powerful and allow room for the illustrations to tell much of the story. The muted color-scheme is pleasant and the texture and movement of the illustrations make each page interesting and engaging. I think my older elementary students would really enjoy the opportunity to read this story and make the bigger connections to protecting the environment around us.

I introduced my kindergarten students to Jarrett and Jerome Pumphrey. We viewed The Old Truck numerous times identifying the changes. We watched their informative video about how their art is created with stamps. We even tried to make some stamps of our own. I am looking forward to sharing The Old Boat with them. We notice more together. Everyone sees these books in a special way. Marvelous vehicle for conversations. Thank you Pumphreys!

Have you already found and loved The Old Truck? Been wishing for more delightful picture book fun from the Pumphrey brothers? Then you are in for a treat. Their new book, The Old Boat, will be released on March 2 - so you only have a month to wait!

Just like the wonderful story of the truck, this book is also based on family history and childhood experiences. "Our grandmother took us and our brothers fishing and crabbing when we were younger. Our grandfather gave us his old bay boat when we got older," say Jarrett and Jerome. They credit their grandparents with resilience and teaching their parents to create better lives for themselves and their children. That resilience comes through in this deceptively simple story.

Rather than a child and her parents (as in The Old Truck), this time we see a boy and his grandmother enjoying their time fishing on the boat. As the boy grows and ventures farther from shore, readers also will see the pollution in the water increase. Finally, the boat wrecks and the young man is washed on shore. The cleanup of the local waters and the building of his own family bring the story circling back to a grandparent/grandchild relationship like the one that started the book.

Just as the old truck finds new life as the young farmer restores it to once again work on the farm, the old boat finds a new purpose as a marine habitat after its sinking. Both books are powerful portrayals of close families and have the added bonus of showing Black characters in settings other than urban streets.

The Old Boat

This poignant book will stay with you long after you have put it down.
A touching and insightful cry for our oceans and the communities that rely on them. This book is gently and beautifully illustrated. The illustrations do most of the talking with the well chosen words adding to the plight and difficulties of pollution in our oceans.
Eventually the tides turn and one man starts the movement of collecting the litter from the ocean and welcome back the sea creatures which have been forced out.
The book is very deep with many messages and lots of opportunities to talk about the text. This is a wonderful book and an important addition to any child’s library.
Thank your to Netgalley and Norton Young Readers for the opportunity to review this book.

A gentle and yet deep picture book about the meaning of our connection to the environment, complete with gorgeous illustrations. If you loved The Old Truck, you will love the slow and meditative The Old Boat.

The wonderful visual appeal of this book is the naive art work and limited color pallette .The illustrations are synchronous with the spare and beautiful text, yet somehow very descriptive. It's the kind of book where the first viewing should be with the text covered, so the reader can predict or invent their own.

With themes of family, ecology, water pollution, conservation and the passing of time, this deceptively simple book offers the opportunity for deep and deeper exploration.

I received an arc of this title from NetGalley for an honest review. I loved the illustrations and simple story.

Jarrett and Jerome Pumphrey's words and illustrations evoke feelings of change, rolling with life, and making sure you find your own way. There's a peacefulness in the illustrations and poetry in the language in "The Old Boat" that will easily make it a classic.

I loved The Old Boat and its message though it was not loud and way too silent. I'm not sure how children would react to this, but it was so soothing for me. I liked how the boy grows up and changes the environment for the better. Excellent illustrations!

An understated call to care for our environment and promote sustainability. Simple illustrations juxtapose marine wildlife and the pollution that threatens it.

An artistic wonder, this picture book leaves much up to interpretation. The pictures tell the story more than the words do of pollution and what it looks like to take pride in a place.

The Pumphrey Brothers have delivered a first-rate book again! At the same time classic, timely, and fresh, The Old Boat provides a lovely look into a variety of relationships and connections. We witness and feel the lasting effects people have on one another, the environment and surroundings, and vice versa.

A+ book! A must-have for libraries, personal bookshelves, and classrooms.

This book is incredibly beautiful! From the story in the illustrations, to the story in the words. The Pumphrey brothers have created another masterpiece with their stamped books and simplicity. I cannot wait to buy this book and share it with readers!

What a beautiful story! I enjoyed following the boat’s journey to see what would happen next. The illustrations and words are so powerful.

This beautiful new picture book from the Pumphrey brothers is every bit as beautiful as their first book, The Old Truck. Each page of detailed artwork evokes different feelings in readers, and the text is poetic but spare, letting readers focus on the art to interpret the story. I think it will be interesting to hear what children see and notice in this book, but there are definite environmental themes, as we see the ocean polluted with trash and the attempts to clean it up. This is a must-have for libraries and classrooms.

Two brothers write a story using the relationship they had with their grandparents as inspiration. I loved the pictures, the simplicity allows a small listener to pick up on all that is happening on the page. The different emotions the characters feel are clear on the faces and would make for great discussion afterward highlighting social-emotional learning. The lyrical text flows as you read aloud. The moral lessons might be above the listener's level, but will not at all detract from the enjoyment of the book.

I am thankful to see two diverse authors highlighted and a positive story with universal themes to build empathy in all readers.