Every summer morning, Ellie and her Nonna go to the beach. They swim and build sandcastles, and while Nonna reads, Ellie watches the other children play.

One day Ellie builds up the courage to approach an older girl playing on her own in a beached rowboat. Piper has a gift, an imagination so great that she whisks Ellie off on grand adventures, going high in the air, deep below the ocean and everywhere in between in their little blue boat, their magic boat. When Piper has to leave, Ellie discovers she has her own vivid imagination.

Available in French as Le bateau magique.

Kit Pearson's profile page

Katherine Farris est n&eacutee &agrave Vancouver, en Colombie-Britannique. Apr&egraves ses &eacutetudes universitaires, elle a d&eacutem&eacutenag&eacute &agrave Toronto, en Ontario, o&ugrave elle a travaill&eacute au magazine Toronto Life, pour l’&eacutediteur Greey de Pencier et pour le magazine OWL. En tant que recherchiste et &eacuteditrice, elle a contribu&eacute &agrave une grande vari&eacutet&eacute de projets : des guides sur le tourisme ferroviaire canadien en passant par des livres de questions et r&eacuteponses pour les enfants. Durant sa carri&egravere, elle s’est mise &agrave peindre. Vivant maintenant &agrave Victoria, en Colombie-Britannique, elle se consacre &agrave l’art et au saxophone alto.

Katherine Farris' profile page

Heather Gould is an entrepreneur, artist and voice actor from Victoria, British Columbia.

Heather Gould's profile page

• Nominated, Forest of Reading Blue Spruce Award
• Short-listed, City of Victoria Children’s Book Prize
• Commended, Ontario Library association (OLA) Best Bets - Honourable Mention
• Commended, Bank Street College of Education Children's Book Committee Best Children's Books of the Year
• Commended, CCBC Best Books for Kids & Teens, starred selection

“Pearson and Farris’s text is engaging, moving us seamlessly between reality and imagination…Grimard’s pencil and watercolour illustrations are lovely.”

Canadian Children's Booknews

"Pearson and Farris' prose moves seamlessly from the easy unhurriedness of summer play to the weightier awe of discovery. Grimard keeps visual pace with warm watercolors and pencil-sketched shading and lines that feel light but never fluffy, capturing the dynamic fluidity between real and pretend…Infectiously delightful."

Kirkus Reviews

“The Magic Boat is a beautiful book with a special story…Grimard’s illustrations are full of colour and summer sunshine, which perfectly complement this beachy and magical story.”

Resource Links

“The message of reaching out past one’s shyness works well.”

Kiss the Book blog

"Can be used by parents and grandparents, teachers and caregivers to plant the idea in the minds of shy children that they can venture forth in life, because life is an adventure. Recommended"

CM: Canadian Review of Materials

“This heartwarming tale encapsulates the childlike happiness of being at the beach.”

Eight Cousins Bookshop

“A beautiful voyage into the imagination…Schools and homes with pre-school children will find this to be a favorite read.”

Must Read Literature: K thru YA

"Sensitive and imaginative...Grimard’s bright and exuberant illustrations give life to Pearson and Farris’s gentle text."

The Globe and Mail