Johnny, the Sea, and Me

(Hardback)

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Description

A timid ten-year-old boy meets Johnny, a gruff islander who will change his life, in Johnny, the Sea, and Me, a heartwarming middle-grade novel by Melba Escobarabout finding yourself and your place in the world-featuring illustrations by award-winning artist Elizabeth Builes.

Translated from Spanish by Sara Lissa Paulson

Pedro has always dreamed of going to the sea. So when his mom takes him on a special trip to a small island in the Caribbean, he's so happy that he grows an extra inch! But the troubles at home-bullying from classmates and an absent father-find a way to follow Pedro, even on vacation... Overwhelmed, the boy takes to the beach and runs away, hoping to leave his worries far behind.

That's when he meets Johnny, an islander descended from pirates. At first, Pedro is frightened by Johnny's imposing appearance and brusque manners. But Johnny, along with his chatty parrot Victoria, takes young Pedro under his wing and shares his island and his stories with him, thereby changing Pedro's life. Because sometimes, like Pedro, you have to lose yourself to find yourself.

Reviews

STARRED REVIEW! "Translator Paulson (Book of Questions) gracefully incorporates hints of magical realism from Colombian writer Escobar... Escobars compatriot Builes contributes delicately lined artwork to this tale, which ruminates on the healing presence of a figure who lives life on his own terms." * Publishers Weekly *
Made up of salient early moments in a boys coming of age, this Colombian import contains glints of magical realism and a picaresque, albeit parrot-narrated, pirate subplot. Pedro grows and shrinks according to his emotional state, and Escobars wry musings about treasureis it the purported pirates plundered gold, or the islands magnificent, prolific breadfruit treesparkle like the seven-colored sea. Builes pale, delicate illustrations add humorous touches. Lively and thought provoking. * Kirkus Reviews *

Author Bio

Melba Escobar is a Colombian author and journalist. Her debut Spanish-language childrens book, Johnny, the Sea, and Me, was selected for the 2015 White Ravens catalog as an outstanding international book by the International Youth Library. Escobar lives in Barcelona with her husband and two children, and writes for El Pas and Colombias El Tiempo.
Elizabeth Builes is a Colombian illustrator who won the Tragaluz Illustration Award in 2013 and went on to receive worldwide recognition for the original Colombian edition of Johnny, the Sea and Me in 2015.
Sara Lissa Paulson is a translator of Spanish and Latin American poetry, picture books, and middle grade fiction. Her first translation, Pablo Nerudas Book of Questions, illustrated by Paloma Valdivia, was selected as a New York Times Best Childrens Book of 2022.