The Voyage

by Veronica Salinas, Camilla Engman (Illustrations)

This deceptively simple book about adapting to new situations will appeal to children who are just starting school or daycare, children who are about to move to a new home, or children who are learning a new language. In this delightful picture book, a small duck finds itself in a place full of unusual creatures who speak an unfamiliar language. Eventually, it meets an animal whose big feet are a bit like its own. And with a friend by its side, the small duck soon can feel at home. The illustrations are gently humorous, while the simple text affirms the importance of knowing who you are and being open to change. Without making unrealistic promises, this story reassures children that, with time, they can adapt to any new environment and make new friends to explore it with. And if, as happens to the little duck in this story, those new friends have to leave, the child, like the little duck, will be able to greet the next wave of newcomers with compassion and generosity.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Friendship, Travel, International, Animals

40 pages, Hardcover

First published October 8, 2013

Reviews

[Parastoo Khalili]

بعضي وقت‌ها هم هست كه كتابي ميشه تيكه اي از قلبت ❤

[Saba]

شاید روزی مجبور شوی سفر کنی
و باد تندی چنان تو را ببرد
که فراموش کنی چه کسی بوده ای و از کجا آمده ای...

[Elish]

((من كي ام؟
تو هماني هستي كه بايد باشي))
تحت عنوان كتاب كودك اين كتاب رو خريدم ولعنتي چقدر عالي متصل شد به روح و روانم،اون قسمت عميق وبه ندرت دست يافتني،كوتاه اما عجيب تاثيرگذار،يعني ميتونه روي كودكان هم همين تاثير رو داشته باشه؟!
پيشنهاد ميكنم هرجا ديدينش بخونين يا بخرينش،شايد ٥دقيقه وقتتون رو بگيره اما تاثيرش خيلي طولاني تر هست!

[The Styling Librarian]

The Voyage by Veronica Salinas, illustrated by Camilla Engman – Wow. What a different book. I loved the approach to change. The learning of a new language. Trying something new. Accepting that change will occur elsewhere once you’ve changed yourself. My one thing? Silly I know but I loved the hedgehog at the beginning of the story and wished to see it later in the book… but when you have a voyage, you leave some creatures behind…

[Eli]

خیلی قشنگ بود و به دلم نشست، تصویرگریش رو هم دوست داشتم :))
ناپایداری جهان، تغییر ناگهانی محل زندگی، از دست دادن آدم‌های عزیز زندگیت و ارتباط گرفتن باآدم‌های جدید، و در نهایت تنهایی و کنار آمدن با تنهایی

[معصومه توکلی]

عنوان ترجمه ی فارسی: سفر

[Becky Shaknovich]

This is deep. Is it a metaphor for immigration? Change? Is it about resilience? Being yourself? There's lots for a child (or an adult) to think about here. The voyage is true art from the Sacndinavian based author Veronica Salinas and illustrator Camilla Engman.

[Juli Anna]

A little odd and esoteric for a picture book, but the illustrations are adorable enough to make it accessible. The story is somehow both cute and mythopoetic at the same time, and as a grownup I find it to hold real weight. Perhaps a little vague to be a favorite with kids, though.

[Mandy E]

Illustrations are great, narrative meaningful but lacking in story as such

[Debby Baumgartner]

A story from Norway where a duck gets blown away to a strange land and feels uncomfortable because of the strange animals he meets and does not understand them. How will he adapt?

[Rozhan Sadeghi]

اول صبح شنبه و با جمله‌ی اول این کتاب که ثنا بهم هدیه داد، قلبم زخمی شد.
«شاید روزی مجبور شوی جایی را که در آن زندگی می‌کنی، ترک کنی.»
خوندن کتاب فقط چند ماه مونده به مهاجرت، به خداحافظی از عزیزان، ترک کردن دلبستگی‌ها و یکی یکی چیدن ریشه‌ها، تک‌تک صفحاتش رو برام ملموس‌تر و خب البته، دردناک‌تر کرد.

[Gita]

شاید روزی مجبور شوی جایی را که در آن زندگی می‌کنی، ترک کنی. و بادی تُند چنان تو را ببرد که فراموش کنی چه کسی هستی و از کجا آمده‌ای.
بسیار غمگین می‌شوی چون حرف هیچ‌کس را نمی‌فهمی.

داستان خیلی زیبایی راجع‌به مهاجرت -و نه لزوماً از یک کشور به کشوری دیگر. به هر جایی که حرف کسی را نمی‌فهمی.

[ن‌گ‌ا‌را]

عنوان voyage در فارسی “سفر” ترجمه شده که با توجه به متن کتاب به نظرم درست نیست. کتاب کمی فلسفی برای کودکان هست و مفهوم مهاجرت و تغییر خیلی بزرگ رو داره . روند داستان خوب بود و در انتها هم خوب تموم شد . اگر در حال مهاجرت هستید یا مهاجرت کرده اید کتاب خیلی خوبی برای فرزند شماست .

[Barbara]

Like all of us at some point in our lives, a small duck is blown away from all that is familiar. At first, he has no idea where he is or who he is, for that matter. He is unable to understand anything that those around him are saying until another bird that looks somewhat like him arrives. After the wind blows him and everything around the duck away, he still knows who he is and is ready to help the next creature to arrive. The digital illustrations and the simple story are gentle reminders to breathe and accept life's changes. As long as you stay true to yourself, you'll be okay.

[Samantha]

A small duck ends up in a new place and doesn't see a familiar face in sight. He can't understand the language and he's unsure of himself. When he crosses path with another duck he learns to embrace what he knows of himself and carries on with confidence.

This is one of those picture books that has deeper meaning for adults. It's make a nice gift book for someone embarking on a big change in their life. Pencil illustrations, colored digitally.

[Linda]

The little duck is blown away from his home and surroundings and finds himself in such a strange place that he forgets who he is. This simple book is poignant on several levels--refugees who leave their homelands, young people who feel "lost" and out of place, those who forget that they carry seeds of divinity within them.
The little duck eventually makes friends and finds familiarity in his new home. Then he helps another who was lost... A simple and tender book.

[Carrie Gelson]

A book that definitely needs more than one read. This one is philosophical and contemplative. How do we face what is new? How do we begin to belong? How are we understood? How do we manage the unknown? What makes us feel a part of things? How do we extend compassion and welcome to others? All of these questions are addressed as a little duck finds itself in a new place and moves through a range of emotions from confusion and fear to joy and calm.

[Emily]

A wonderful story about identity, belonging, and newness with magnificent (and deceptively simple) illustrations. Evokes a sense of peace and circularity I haven't felt from a book in a long time.

This was a selection for the Butler Center's Mock CaldeNott - considering only picture books for children published outside the United States. Even though I wasn't able to attend the discussion, I got hold of all ten of the shortlisted books and quickly devoured them.

[Heidi-Marie]

There are a lot of deep messages that can be drawn from this. I think the picture book is meant for older people who know what it's like to encounter a new situation, or to have change happen to them. Young children may have these happen, and then they may get the book. But otherwise, I don't think kids will get this. However, I related very well to it and found a sweet sadness filled with hope from it.

[CharityJ]

In my opinion, this is a picture book for adults or older kids. It's a little abstract for younger ones. But, oh, what a sweet, insightful representation of going away, being in a strange place and finding your way again.

[Emily Matview]

I love the art and the nice, flat colors compliment it really well. The story deals with identity and change abd since it's told in a way that is more abstract than most picture books, which might not be as enjoyable for very young people.

[Kelsey]

Age: 1st grade-3rd grade

This would be a great book to use in the classroom because there is ample opportunity to discuss the purpose of the book. Great for accepting yourself for who you are and it might provide an interesting discussion for being a newcomer in a strange land.

[Edward Sullivan]

A charming story, witty and enigmatic.

[Robin]

The story is about 85% for adults. Lovely, quiet, softly quirky illustrations. Recommended for thoughtful, introspective 4-5 year olds.

[Robin]

Beautiful art, but the text was abstract and meditative in a way that only adults (might) appreciate. A preachy and awkward way to moralize about self-esteem, among other things.

[Lindsay]

I enjoyed the art but felt the story was some sort of allegory or metaphor I didn't really get.

[Robin]

Author lives in Oslo, Norway.
Illustrator lives in Goteborg, Sweden.
Translation by Jeanne Eirheim.
Illustrations were drawn by hand and composed and colored digitally.

[Beth]

Quite the little philosophical read. A great book for class discussion and definitely one that needs to be read multiple times.

[Joanna]

Butler Center Calde-nott List 2014

[Neda Alaei]

Søt og rar bok om å reise til en fremmed og ukjent plass, og å møte fremmede man ikke alltid forstår språket til.