Islands

Leigh Dodds is an elementary-school teacher in North Bay, Ontario.

Children treasure a place they believe to be special. In this book,
Laura takes us to visit her favorite spot under the tall trees of the
farthest island. During the summer, Laura and her father paddled to the
three islands, and now that winter has come Laura and her mother don
their skates to revisit them. Laura reminisces about what she saw and
about the things she did in the summer. She observes the changes that
have occurred since the lake and islands were frozen and blanketed with
snow. On her return trip from the islands, Laura stops to make a wish;
she falls asleep that night dreaming that her wish comes true.

Islands pleases on three levels: description, information, and
sensitivity. An abundance of description creates vivid images of what
Laura sees, or has seen, on her trips to the islands. At the same time,
one learns about life both under and around the lake in winter. Finally,
it is refreshing to see a mother and daughter sharing an afternoon
together exploring nature’s mysteries. Laszlo Gal’s illustrations
beautifully complement this winter story. Islands is a book best shared
by a parent and child so that the descriptions can be fully appreciated
and the story tied to personal experiences. Recommended.