This was very cute. My nieces who have a cabin would love it. I did think that the term "coming soon baby" felt kind of weird and didn't flow. But overall beautiful art and cute story.

Subtle message that gets lost in the story. Tackles the questions of the arrival of a baby. Mother responds with compassion and endearment. Genuine interactions between mother and daughter. Emphasises understanding of the uncertain future. Gentle illustrations. Revolves around nature and new life. Evokes feelings of assurance and curiosity. Recommended for those with new gratitude. Overall, an average read.

I chose this book because I am expecting my second child. I thought it might be a good one to read to my daughter. The actual point of the story is beautiful and the illustrations are wonderful, but I feel the point gets lost a little in the story.

The Blue Canoe' by Sheryl McFarlane is truly a special picture book that even as a parent I can enjoy. The illustrations in this book are simply stunning, I love the colours but also the bubbles of artwork showing parts of the scene. The artwork showcasing the simple beauty of the world and its people. It's a book that's perfect for snuggling up in bed getting those extra cuddles in.

What struck me the most about 'The Blue Canoe' was how it packed a lot of meaning and weight beneath its cute and beautiful exterior. The story delves into the shifting dynamics of a family when a new sibling is on the way, a theme that I found very touching. The book explores the uncertainty and questions that children might face when welcoming a new family member. Will things change? Will I still get to do the things I love with mom? What if the new sibling doesn't love the things we do?

However, what truly grounded my affection for this book was the portrayal of love, compassion, and growth in the mother's response to her daughter's concerns. The way she allows her daughter to be seen and heard is so heart-warming and genuine. As a parent, reading this filled my heart with warmth and resonated deeply with me. I really enjoyed this book, for a children's book it really connected to my heart.

'The Blue Canoe' is a beautiful and heartfelt story that I believe every child should experience. It's a reminder of the power of love, understanding, and acceptance within a family, and it's a book that I wholeheartedly recommend for its message of connection and compassion.

As a mum that has welcomed her second child into the world. I loved this. It was so simple, and beautiful.

I found it very hard to rate children's books so everything is a 5 star read for me!!
I really loved this book, the illustrations are so beautiful and captivating that I found myself smiling through every page I read.
The story itself is very beaitiful and inspiring <3

The Blue Canoe is about a little girl and her pregnant mom going on a little canoe ride, observing nature and the beautiful wildlife while the little girl wonders about the big change to come in the family. The illustrations are so beautiful and peaceful. Recommended!

Such a good book. Bringing a new baby into a family can bring on lots of questions for little kids. I think the author did a great job conveying this. Beautiful illustrations!

The illustrations are wonderful, every page is a gem, I couldn’t take my eyes off them. The story takes us through the curious thoughts of a little girl, her mom is expecting a child so she can’t stop thinking if her new sibling will be able to enjoy all the things she and her mom usually do. Her mom responds appropriately to help her process those thoughts, both characters are nameless throughout the book , so I’m assuming that this book is a crowd-narrated one and maybe for a crowd of little kids, however the language contradicts that, there are some big words that cut off the flow of the sentences, it might need more elaborating, but these big words are also great if the book will be used in schools.

What a sweet story! I have found that many of the "coming-soon baby" books I've read are focused on day-to-day events at home. I really appreciated that this took the topic away from home and out into nature. The daughter was able to see so many animals with parents and babies and siblings that the story had this peaceful calm. It felt like a less scary way of covering the topic of welcoming a new little love into the family.

So much changes and everyone has questions and feelings about how those changes will affect them individually and as a family unit. I love that the mother says that the baby might like some of the same activities or will like some of their own activities. The gentle approach while doing something the pair love to do together was so special. And the nod at canoeing together with this new sibling in the future was a precious way to end the story.

The only thing that stressed me out about the book was that teddy was in the water with them!

This was such a sweet book. It offers a perspective on getting a new sibling that is not rooted in jealousy. Perfect for kids getting ready to welcome a new sibling!

The Blue Canoe is a reflective and warm story about a young girl reflecting with her mother about the upcoming arrival of her 'coming-soon' baby sibling.

I think this would be a wonderful read for a child expecting a new sibling. I loved the gentle and honest relationship between mother and daughter, as daughter expressed her fears about the upcoming change. Their conversation explored individual differences and identity, the unsettling experience of change, and the exciting new things that change can bring. Watching them canoe down the river, and notice the wildlife around them gave their conversation such a relaxing and grounding feeling.

I was drawn to the book by the illustration on the cover, which which were rich and glowing and almost shone from the page. They made the story a truly immersive experience, and we loved looking at the trout, seeing the eagle overhead, and swimming under the water with mother and daughter.

Thank you Familius and NetGalley for a copy of this book. Opinions expressed are my own.

I read this story with my children and they loved pointing out each individual animal.

This story is about a young girl and her expectant mother going on a ride in their blue canoe, a hobby they both share. The girl has many questions about the world around her and what her life will be like soon with a new sibling in tow. The mother is gentle, kind and reassures her daughter that they will still continue to take canoe travels together.

This is an excellent book to read with any children but particularly those about to get upgraded to big sibling status.
The message is warm and cozy and the illustrations are colorful and beautiful.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read and review this book.