Rumie Goes Rafting
by Meghan Marentette (Author)
An ambitious yet impatient little critter seeks adventure outside their cozy forest home
Adventurous little Rumie longs to sail down the stream and find out where it leads, but the water is too low for Uncle Hawthorne's boat. Suddenly, a ladybird floating on a leaf gives Rumie an idea--they should build a raft! With Uncle's help, the raft is built and plans are made to take it out the following day.
When Rumie wakes up early the next morning, Uncle is still asleep. Impatient, Rumie decides to test out the raft on their own, but rain from the night before has made the current too strong, and they're nearly swept over a waterfall! Luckily, just as the raft capsizes, Uncle comes to their rescue. Rumie admits that they should have waited for Uncle instead of going out alone, and the pair spend the afternoon on the lake instead.
Photographs of cuddly plush critters on a real-life forest backdrop bring Rumie's woodland adventure to life. This visually stunning debut by author and illustrator Meghan Marentette is a nod to the boundless resourcefulness and creativity of children, and a gentle lesson in practicing patience.
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Kirkus
Enticing and adorable.
School Library Journal
PreS-Gr 1--Rumie, a gray and white handmade felt mouse, tows a button-wheeled wagon through the forest, collecting string, pinecones, bread tabs, and other odd treasures. He is eager for an adventure, but the stream is too low to sail on Uncle Hawthorne's boat. Inspired to build a raft instead, Rumie and Uncle Hawthorne gather twigs, birch bark, and colorful ribbon to construct an impressive raft. Uncle Hawthorne warns that the raft requires a safety test before they embark the following day. Rumie is awake with anticipation through the night, as a rainstorm rages outside of the snug burrow. At sunrise, Uncle Hawthorne snoozes as Rumie impatiently scurries to the now much higher stream, the raft beckoning him. Rumie opts to test the raft himself and a strong current suddenly sweeps him downstream toward a waterfall. Despite a predictable story and a few moments of disjointed narrative progression, Marentette's debut picture book is playful, with charming photographed illustrations of realistic dioramas created with natural materials and found objects. Readers will linger over the cozy handicrafts of Rumie and Uncle Hawthorne's home: miniature quilts, punched tin lanterns, metal bottle cap stools, and champagne cork cage tables. Fans of Nancy Rose's scenes in "The Secret Life of Squirrels" series, will be especially drawn to Marentette's intricate displays, regardless of the story. VERDICT This is not an essential purchase, but it's suitable for modeling and inspiring imaginative play, as well as ideas for those dreamy readers who like to insert themselves into every scene.--Emily Brush
Copyright 2024 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
Review quotes
Photos of endearing plush critters bring to life the adventures of an impetuous young hero ... Enticing and adorable.— Kirkus Reviews
JUV041020 - Juvenile Fiction | Transportation | Boats, Ships, & Underwater Craft
