The ships that travel the Great Lakes are big. The Lakes themselves are huge. And they get even bigger when seen through the eyes of a chipmunk accidentally venturing over the water and far from home.
Oskar's Voyage by Laura Purdie Salas and illustrated by Kayla Harren highlights the happenings aboard a ship traversing the Great Lakes. Through Oskar's eyes, readers witness the unique operations of life out on the lakes as well as some of the functional and mechanical elements of the vessels.
The book was inspired by the author's own journey. "My husband and I moved up here from Florida long ago and when we saw the freighters on the Great Lakes up in Duluth, we were just in awe," says Laura Purdie Salas. "We got to spend eight days on the Paul R. Tregurtha." Many of Laura's experiences and observations translated into Oskar's adventures.
Oskar's Voyage is available at local independent booksellers as well as online. The author and illustrator will be visiting Duluth in June. You can meet them both at The Bookstore at Fitger's on June 12th and at the Maritime Museum on June 13th.
Minnesota Reads is produced at The North 103.3 with funding provided in part by the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.
