The Book Boat's In

by Cynthia Cotten, Frané Lessac (Illustrator)

Jesse has waited for months for the arrival of the book boat. There he finds a used copy of The Swiss Family Robinson that he desperately wants, but at twenty cents the book costs too much. After working hard, Jesse is deeply disappointed: he has only seventeen and a half cents. But his luck changes when he learns that there's another copy, which the owner will sell for just fourteen cents. This nostalgic picture book is based on the 1800s book boat that traveled along the Erie Canal. Colorful folk art-style paintings complement this book about the love of reading and the merits of hard work.

Genres: Picture Books, Historical Fiction, Books About Books, Childrens, Fiction, Kids, Juvenile

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 7, 2013

Reviews

[Sheri · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked this one up solely based on the title and didn't even really look at the cover. I was pleasantly surprised to learn this is not set in modern times as I was expecting, but in the 1800's. I learned all about the floating library/bookstore along the Erie Canal, something I had not heard of before. I enjoy learning about different types of libraries, both historically and in the present day, and this book will interest children as well.

[Nick · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a picture book about an unusual part of American history. After the opening of the Erie Canal, there were floating library/bookstore combinations that traveled the canal, selling and renting books to folks at various stops. Before public libraries were common, this was a way of getting books on the frontier, at a price a family on a farm might be able to afford.
Cynthia Cotten, with the help of the Erie Canal Museum, has put together a nice little story that puts that time in context for modern kids. Struggling to save such a small amount is tough for kids to imagine, but showing the central character doing hard chores for a penny gives perspective.
I wish the artwork by Lessac had been just a little better...nothing horrible, but it may not appeal to younger children.

[Marcia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved learning about the 1800’s floating libraries that went back and forth along the Erie Canal. Bright cheerful illustrations in American folk-art style add a great touch. As a fellow booklover, I enjoyed the excitement of Jesse selecting a book to be his very own and then working all week to earn enough money to purchase it. Fun how each time he went on board his hands were checked for dirt by Mr. Edwards, the proprietor. :)

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

I really liked this book. It was great! The story was fabulous, and the illustrations were pretty great, too. I loved that this is a fictional story based on real events. And not only that, but it shares information on a little known piece of American history! :)

I really loved the main character's - a little boy named Jesse King - enthusiasm for the book boat and for the books. The proprietor was a pretty neat character, too: I loved that he made sure Jesse's hands were clean before admitting Jesse to the story/library.

Jesse fell in love with a copy of The Swiss Family Robinson and wanted to buy it, and was heartbroken that he couldn't afford it. The book boat was coming back the following week, and Jesse determined to work as many jobs as he could find to try and come up with the money to buy it. Unfortunately, when the store came back around, the book had already been sold. Near tears, Jesse had turned away when the bookseller showed him a more worn book that also happened to be The Swiss Family Robinson. All smiles, Jesse was thrilled especially to be told he could have it for less than the first copy: he could afford it!

I really liked the last page of the book, where the author shared the factual information upon which he based his story. This proved to be very interesting reading. As a lover of libraries and bookstores, this was a great story to read and I plan to gift it to my nieces when they're old enough to read. I only hope they'll love books, libraries, bookstores, and reading as much as I do! :)

[Ina · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a librarian, I'll admit that I am drawn to books about libraries, and a love of books. This book is about the floating libraries that floated up and down the Erie Canal. The year is 1835 and young Jesse works hard and saves his money to buy his first book. The book describes the floating library and life along the canal with wonderful text and vividly colored, and very detailed illustrations. I loved the emotional tug of the book on Jesse, his longing to own the book, and all of the work he was willing to do to earn the money to buy his book. This is a marvelous book.

[Karen Eichler · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love bookstores, and I love the fact that they used to float them down the Erie Canal! A wonderful, colorful picture book about the excitement of finding a new book and the hard work it takes to save for what you want. A unique angle for looking at life on a canal, but a fun, interesting read even for those not living within spitting distance.*

*please don't spit into the canal. You'll want to, but don't.

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had never heard of the floating libraries on canal systems. Stories about canal boat days always intrigue me so that is probably why I am giving it a higher score. The artwork is bright and has the right place for the time and place of the story. This is also a good story showing the value of a good book.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

A library boat on the canal brings books to borrow and buy to a young boy's town. One title catches his eye, and he spends the next couple of weeks earning the funds to buy the book when the library boat comes back to his town. A great story of diligent work for young kids as almost everyone can relate to working and saving for something special.

[Sandy Brehl · Rating 4 out of 5]

This should be shared in combination with other titles about traveling libraries (My Librarian is a Camel, That Book Woman, Waiting for the Biblioburro, etc.). This view of early life along the Erie Canal also sparks curiosity about the geography and significance of that time and place.

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A floating library & bookstore. Who knew?

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Based on true story of floating boat libraries that ran up and down the Erie Canal in the 19th century.

[Hilary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cynthia Cotton has written eight books for children. Her work has been won the NCSS-CDC Notable Social Studies Trade Book for Young People award, included in the Texas 2x2 Reading List, and recognized by Bank Street on their Best Children's Book of the Year list.

"The Book Boat's In," chronicles the story of a forgotten page in American history: the floating library/bookstore boats that traveled the Erie Canal in the early 1800s. Assisted by the Erie Canal Museum, Cotten reveals a time before public libraries were common. To provide affordable literature to frontier families, these floating libraries would rent or sell volumes to readers.

Youngsters may identify with Jesse, who performs many odd jobs and chores to earn the money to purchase a volume of “The Swiss Family Robinson.” In addition to underlining how important reading and culture were to rural settlers, the story shares an important lesson about setting and achieving goals.

Frane Lessac’s gouache artwork brings vibrant color and life to Cotten’s tale. The primitive style lends an “old-timey” atmosphere to the story for young readers. As a result, the short story will work in group readings and in story times. Use the book in social studies and history units, and also be sure to include this volume in displays and lists for National Bookmobile Day, which takes place on the Wednesday of National Library Week each year.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

A perfect choice for a text set consisting of books about literacy or unusual ways that access to books is provided, this picture book describes how Jesse King waits eagerly for the book boat to arrive in his town. After exploring the boat's contents, he wants to buy The Swiss Family Robinson, but his father can't afford it right now. Jesse spends the next week earning the money to buy the book, but there is both disappointment and a surprise waiting for him when he looks for his highly-anticipated treasure. The gouache illustrations rely on bright colors and flattened forms to pay homage to this particular time period after 1825 when the Erie Canal provided access to farflung communities and encouraged westward expansion. An author's note offers additional information and reminds readers just how eagerly many citizens awaited those book-filled floating libraries.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jesse and his family live near a small town on the river. The R. Edwards Library and Bookstore visits the town and Jesse desperately wants to buy a copy of his favorite book. The Swiss Family Robinson. He works hard to earn the twenty cents to buy the book only to find that it's sold by the time he returns. The bookseller sells him an older, used copy of the same book for a lower price.

I liked the paintings and found that they complimented the 1835 setting of the story. Students excited about reading and book ownership will be interested to know that book boats really did serve communities along the Erie Canal in the 1830's. Recommended for students in lower elementary school.

[Janet · Rating 1 out of 5]

A disappointing story for me, Basically it was young boy wants book, needs to earn money to purchase book and be sure to have clean hands to handle books. However, the young boy's books are delivered by canal boat. There is not enough historical detail for me in the text. In this present age research can be done finding details of how a canal boat might have delivered books. Checking old newspapers for New York may have shed some light on a schedule for a book boat, a disaster for a book boat, or some shred of detail. In my eyes this title has no life or passion about the excitement of having books delivered to one's community. So disappointing. The focus should have been on the book boat, it's owner's and workers, its travels, not merely one boy wanting a book.

[Christine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Young Jesse is so excited that the book boat is in and he finds the perfect book, The Swiss Family Robinson, to purchase. Unfortunately he doesn't have enough money but finds the boat will return the next week. Jesse works hard to earn the money to purchase his book and is met with a small set-back and then a big surprise the next week when the boat returns. The illustrations that accompany the text are reminiscent of traditional folk painting and remind us as years gone by. A fun read about a piece of history that I was not familiar with.

[Karen Arendt · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting story of book boat libraries along the Erie Canal during the 1800s. A young boy, Jesse, wants to buy a copy of Swiss Family Robinson, but he doesn't have enough money. He works hard all week earning the only but still doesn't have enough. When the book boat comes back, his book is gone, but the book boat owner has another book for him. Shows the enjoyment of owning a book and reading.

[Jocelyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting story about floating library boats that traveled from village to village on the river between Albany, NY and Buffalo, NY after the Erie Canal was completed. It may confuse young readers to read that the main character is trying to save up money to buy a book, when the boat clearly says "Library", but the afterward explains that libraries were not free at that time, charging a few cents to "rent" a book until the boat came by again, or slightly more to purchase one.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice picture book with rather primitive paintings for illustrations. Lets children see a period in history where books were thought of as something really special and were relatively hard to come by. I particularly like the book seller, Mr. Edwards. He always checks Jesse's hands to see if they are clean enough to come in to "The Book Boat" and handle the books. Maybe I should start checking hands in the library!

[Stephanie Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this story for a homeschool history unit I created for my 5 year old. We focused of fictional and non-fiction stories of "How Children Lived Then." This story was a fun snap shot to the time of the Erie Canal but what I loved most about it was how it teaches the value of work and earning your way. The values and the story are timeless!

[Luis · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an easy read for children. It narrates the story of Jesse, who waited months to be able to buy his first book from the book boat. These boats used to travel through the Hudson River from New York City all the way up to Albany. The construction of the Erie canal also allowed for expansion westward (Buffalo, Cleveland, Chicago, and Detroit.

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

Though this is not my favorite story, I do love that this book is historically accurate. I love learning new facts, and book boats really did exist! Also, I love that the illustrations are actually painted! A story that readers can relate to, working hard for something you really want (a book)!

[Katie Parker · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book pairs well with other Common Core NY State Grade 3 Learning Module 1 books... Similar message about the value of libraries, books, and reading.

[Lynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the story much more than the illustrations.

[Peacegal · Rating 3 out of 5]

A book about a very unusual library. I'd like to visit a book boat.

[Lady Lioness · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was cute, but it was more of an anecdotal recounting than a full-fledged story and I don't think it'd work for story time.

[Marina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another interesting way to have a library/bookstore.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pair this with Heather Henson's That Book Woman and Jeanette Winter's Biblioburro for an exploration about unconventional libraries.

[Donald · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute book! I'd love to visit a book boat! Or actually, I'd love to own a book boat!

[Cymiki · Rating 4 out of 5]

never heard of book boats tip this book - what fun!