Over by the harbour, In a bog in the sun Lived an old mother moose And her little calf one. “Stomp!” said the mother; “I stomp!” said the one. So they ran and they stomped In a bog in the sun.

A delightful modern adaptation of the classic counting rhyme “Over in the Meadow” set in outport Newfoundland and Labrador, Over by the Harbour teaches young readers counting and rhyming skills while also introducing them to some of the province’s most iconic animals in their natural habitat—from moose and the Newfoundland dog to puffins and polar bears. With charming verses and beautiful watercolour illustrations, Over the Harbour is a joyful read-aloud for the whole family and a fun counting primer all in one.

Dwayne LaFitte was born in Labrador and grew up in the outport community of Port au Port on the west coast of Newfoundland. After high school, he moved to St. John’s where he earned a bachelor of arts degree from Memorial University. During his studies, he became a passionate supporter and activist for numerous charities. He is an experienced guide and survivalist, and he has a fascination with the outdoors. He has worked as an educator and researcher, and he has been employed in publishing in various capacities. His career path eventually led him to the Government of Canada, where he now works as a program officer assisting employers, youth, and seniors. Dwayne is the author of Over by the Harbour, an illustrated children’s book whose royalties he continues to donate to the Janeway Children’s Hospital. He currently resides in Mount Pearl with his wife, Twila, and son, Liam.

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Thérèse Cilia is a freelance painter and illustrator whose whimsical and detailed work often finds a home in children’s books, prints, stationery, and commissions. She obtained her bachelor of fine arts degree in drawing and painting in 2007 at OCAD University in Toronto. In 2012, she turned a two-week artist retreat in Newfoundland into a year-long residence in Bonavista, where she began illustrating her first children’s book, Over by the Harbour, with Flanker Press in St. John’s. Bullet the New Steam Engine is their second collaboration. She currently lives in Belleville, Ontario, where she is working on her third picture book.

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