Rumie Goes Rafting - by Meghan Marentette (Hardcover)

About the Book

"Rumie, a forest dwelling mouse, longs to sail down the stream and find out where it leads. Unfortunately, it is spring and the season needs to see more rain before the stream will be deep enough for Uncle's sail boat. However, after spotting a ladybird floating down the stream on a leaf, Rumie hatches an idea--they should build a raft! Uncle agrees to help out. They construct the raft and make plans to test it out together the next morning. Rumie wakes up bright and early and ready to raft, but Uncle is still sleeping. Rumie waits and waits, until they just can't wait any longer, and they decide there's no harm in testing out the raft alone. Rumie starts in the shallows, but rain from the night before made the current stronger than Rumie expected, and suddenly both Rumie and raft are swept away, down the stream. Before long, Rumie discovers exactly where the stream goes--right over a waterfall! The raft flips over and luckily, Uncle is there in time to throw Rumie a life buoy and pull them to shore. Back on the shore, Uncle reveals that he was up late the night before sewing life jackets. Rumie realizes that they should have waited for their Uncle instead of going out alone. As they row out onto the lake that afternoon together (with lifejackets on!), the ladybird floats by again. Suddenly, a new idea hatches, and Rumie's head is filled with dreams of flying"--

Book Synopsis

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.

Review Quotes

"It does a rather delightful job of showing action in a seemingly static form, and I loved how Marentette handled the expressions on the characters' faces. This one's a keeper."

-- "Betsy Bird, A Fuse #8 Production"

"Rumie Goes Rafting is a valuable cautionary tale of the unpredictability of waters ... young children will be inspired to create their own scenes with their small stuffies, build rafts to travel in puddles, and tell stories of sailing, and maybe flying, adventures."

-- "CanLit for Little Canadians"

"Marentette's debut picture book is playful, with charming photographed illustrations of realistic dioramas created with natural materials and found objects ... Suitable for modeling and inspiring imaginative play, as well as ideas for those dreamy readers who like to insert themselves into every scene."

-- "School Library Journal"

"Photos of endearing plush critters bring to life the adventures of an impetuous young hero ... Enticing and adorable."

-- "Kirkus Reviews"

"The narrative itself is simple; the illustrations are anything but: the author crafted puppet models of mice-like creatures, designed and constructed their clothes, built small sets for them, then photographed each scene. The indoor scenes are like those from a dollhouse, if the house were a hollow tree full of charming details."

-- "Booklist"

"In her debut picture book, Marentette uses plush mice set in the forest with natural materials and found objects to create the charming images which add whimsy and magical feel to Rumie Goes Rafting. The imagery speaks to children's creativity and curiosity as they find possibilities with everyday objects around them. This story nurtures children's sense of adventure while gently teaching the importance of patience and safety in all adventures."-- "Canadian Review of Materials"