Elisha Cooper knows how to tell fascinating stories, as writer and illustrator. I have a collection, and often return to them to share with my granddaughters and in classrooms. His artistic eye for detail makes every book a grand adventure.
He begins before he begins his text. The opening view is of a family; in the kitchen, the mom is pointing to a map as her daughter pays close attention, her son is busy with their dog, and dad is hoisting a canoe to the top of the family car. Don't miss the final frame; same place, same people, aftermath of the journey completed. Beautiful!
She begins on a mountain lake and paddles her way to the headwaters of the Hudson River. She has everything she needs, only getting out of the canoe when the water is too shallow. The silence and beauty of her surroundings are palpable ... until she rows into rapids. She is experienced, but concerned. It has not been an easy trip so far. Following her battle with the rapids, she is ready to stop, and spend the night under a moonlit sky.
She is off at the dawn, and rows on constantly taking note of her surroundings, and any warning signs for danger ahead.
"A dam. The river stops. She
must portage around the dam.
She takes two trips, first with her
gear, then with the canoe."
The journey is long ... 300 miles. The encounters are well documented with each new day. The hot sun, the scenes onshore, replenishing her supplies, thick fog, sketching, sleeping, waking, and moving forward mean the days pass quickly. What an amazing odyssey it is for readers and for the intrepid woman who braves every circumstance with resolve and bravery.
One last stop - to visit with the man who built her canoe. A quick stay for coffee, and she begins the final leg. It has been remarkable, and she would like to do it again. For now, she knows exactly where she should be.
"As she paddles, her mind plays forward. She can't wait
to be with them again. Can't wait to tell them about moose
and eagles, rapids and storms. And then to turn her sketches
into paintings and her words into a story."
This is a book about many things, not the least of which is the woman's strength to complete the journey despite her fears, the obstacles, and the time away from her loved ones. It is a careful and shrewd observance of the natural world, and the wonder it evokes in readers. You will want to read it more than once, as you cannot possibly absorb all there is to see in one reading. The stellar artwork will bring you back to it again and again.
An author’s note in included, as well as a note about the river's history.
I am going to leave the final words to Elisha himself:
"But I do hope this book inspires young readers toward their own adventures. This could be the adventure of reading (think of how we all get lost in books, like explorers). Or picking up a pencil. Or taking a nature walk in a local park, or, if you’re lucky, getting out on the water. If there is a sneaky point to this book, it’s to encourage the act of looking at the natural world around us, to see that it is so beautiful, and then to understand how important it is to protect it. So, my wild hope is that a young girl in Plano, Texas will read River, become an ardent environmentalist, grow up to head the Environmental Protection Agency, and save us all. See? I really do hope River changes the world."
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