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THE SHIP IN THE WINDOW (TEXT)

Matthew Cordell Travis Jonker

Caldecott Medalist Matthew Cordell and librarian Travis Jonker have crafted a timeless tale of a little mouse and a big adventure.
Mabel the mouse wants nothing more than to be a fearless sea captain traveling the world in search of adventure. Every night she watches a man carefully construct a model ship, as his son watches by her side. Mabel and the boy know the model ship is anything but a toy, but they both long to see if it can really float. So Mabel hatches a plan to make her seafaring dreams come true. Illustrated by Caldecott Medalist Matthew Cordell and children's librarian and reviewer Travis Jonker, The Ship in the Window celebrates the rewards of following your dreams and never losing the spirit of adventure. Travis Jonker is the author of The Very Last Castle and Blue Floats Away. When he is not writing picture books, he works as an elementary school librarian and a children's book reviewer at the blog 100 Scope Notes. He lives in Michigan. You can visit him at TravisJonkerBooks.com. Matthew Cordell is the author and illustrator of many celebrated picture books for children, including Wish, Explorers, and Wolf in the Snow, which was awarded the Caldecott Medal. He lives outside of Chicago with his wife, author Julie Halpern, and their two children. You can visit him at MatthewCordell.com or follow him on Instagram @Cordell_Matthew.
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Published 2024-08-20 by Viking Children's Books

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Caldecott Medalist Cordell draws the gripping scenes that follow in sun-bleached blues and dense, delicate hatching that recalls old engravings.

Jonker taps into many children's delight in miniatures; they will thrill along with Mabel at her adventure. Cordell's scratchy ink and wash illustrations have a faded look, their sepias and pale blues giving the tale an old-timey feel. Sweet wish fulfillment.

Cordell's beguiling, shaded pencil drawings aptly portray the courageous mouse, the boy, and the man who built the beautifully crafted, seaworthy miniature ship. An enjoyable picture book and a memorable read-aloud choice.

Arrr, 'tis a seaworthy tale, so set your compass toward fulfilling your dreams, and she'll not steer you wrong.

With her plucky spirit and dreamy nature, Mabel would surely make a quick friend of Lobel's Frog and Toad, and the narrative whimsy is both charming and familiar.

Italian rights to Terre di Mezzo