I Went to the Bay

Sylvia Pantaleo is an assistant professor of education specializing in
children’s literature at Queen’s University in Kingston.

Rhyming couplets tell the story of a boy who experiences a sense of
wonder when he goes to the bay and discovers several creatures including
pollywogs, a blue heron, a loon, a turtle, and a fish.

Unfortunately, the text is pedestrian and unengaging. The strength of
this book lies in the artwork. Gourbault uses soft pastel colors and a
technique that creates a textured effect. The facial expressions on the
creatures are delightful and communicate a far more interesting story
than the text. Readers can search for the frog (or two) in each
illustration. Recommended with reservations.