Rocky Waters

Rocky Waters

Written by: Carter, Anne Laurel
Illustrated by: Dumas, Marianne
ages 4 and up / grades K and up
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Inspired by a true story, Rocky Waters is about a young boy who wants nothing more than to fish for lobster with his dad.

All day at school, Rocky stares out the window, imagining fishing boats sailing across the sky. He wants nothing more than to fish for lobster with his dad, and finally one season he’s old enough to go along.

Before dawn, Rocky, Dad and sister Patsy untie their boat and head out to sea. Surrounded by the vast expanse of sky and water, Rocky feels as free as a seagull. His dad steers toward their first buoy, then pulls up a line of traps full of lobster. Rocky learns how to band their claws, then Patsy rebaits the traps and shoves them back into the sea. It takes a full day to haul up, empty, rebait and re-set three hundred traps, but Rocky loves every minute of it. “If the salt’s still in your veins when you’re Patsy’s age, you can leave school and fish all you want,” his dad tells him.

Anne Laurel Carter’s story is inspired by the childhood memories of Rocky Gaudet, who grew up wanting to fish the sea like his Acadian ancestors. He continues to fish for lobster in Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia today. Marianne Dumas’ naïve watercolor illustrations recall Rocky’s first fishing experience.

Key Text Features
author’s note
glossary

Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts:

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.3
With prompting and support, identify characters, settings, and major events in a story.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.3.3
Describe characters in a story (e.g., their traits, motivations, or feelings) and explain how their actions contribute to the sequence of events

Inspired by a true story, Rocky Waters is about a young boy who wants nothing more than to fish for lobster with his dad.

All day at school, Rocky stares out the window, imagining fishing boats sailing across the sky. He wants nothing more than to fish for lobster with his dad, and finally one season he’s old enough to go along.

Before dawn, Rocky, Dad and sister Patsy untie their boat and head out to sea. Surrounded by the vast expanse of sky and water, Rocky feels as free as a seagull. His dad steers toward their first buoy, then pulls up a line of traps full of lobster. Rocky learns how to band their claws, then Patsy rebaits the traps and shoves them back into the sea. It takes a full day to haul up, empty, rebait and re-set three hundred traps, but Rocky loves every minute of it. “If the salt’s still in your veins when you’re Patsy’s age, you can leave school and fish all you want,” his dad tells him.

Anne Laurel Carter’s story is inspired by the childhood memories of Rocky Gaudet, who grew up wanting to fish the sea like his Acadian ancestors. He continues to fish for lobster in Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia today. Marianne Dumas’ naïve watercolor illustrations recall Rocky’s first fishing experience.

Key Text Features
author’s note
glossary

Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts:

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.3
With prompting and support, identify characters, settings, and major events in a story.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.3.3
Describe characters in a story (e.g., their traits, motivations, or feelings) and explain how their actions contribute to the sequence of events

Published By Groundwood Books Ltd — Sep 1, 2019
Specifications 32 pages | 8.625 in x 8.625 in
Written By

ANNE LAUREL CARTER has a Master of Fine Arts in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts. She has published over twenty books, including The Shepherd's Granddaughter, winner of the CLA Book of the Year for Children Award and the Society of School Librarians International Best Book Award. It was also named a Jane Addams Children's Book Award Honor Book and a USBBY Outstanding International Book. Anne's picture books include Rocky Waters, illustrated by Marianne Dumas, and Under A Prairie Sky, illustrated by Alan and Lea Daniel, winner of the Mr. Christie's Book Award.
Illustrated by

MARIANNE DUMAS is an author and illustrator of children’s books, as well as a teacher. Most recently she wrote and illustrated The Fox and the Fisherman, which has been published in French as Le pêcheur et le renard. She lives with her family in Chibougamau, Quebec.
Written By

ANNE LAUREL CARTER has a Master of Fine Arts in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts. She has published over twenty books, including The Shepherd's Granddaughter, winner of the CLA Book of the Year for Children Award and the Society of School Librarians International Best Book Award. It was also named a Jane Addams Children's Book Award Honor Book and a USBBY Outstanding International Book. Anne's picture books include Rocky Waters, illustrated by Marianne Dumas, and Under A Prairie Sky, illustrated by Alan and Lea Daniel, winner of the Mr. Christie's Book Award.
Illustrated by

MARIANNE DUMAS is an author and illustrator of children’s books, as well as a teacher. Most recently she wrote and illustrated The Fox and the Fisherman, which has been published in French as Le pêcheur et le renard. She lives with her family in Chibougamau, Quebec.
Audience ages 4 and up / grades K and up
Reading Levels Guided Reading P
Fountas & Pinnel Text Level P
Lexile 570L
Key Text Features author's note; glossary
Common Core CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.3
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.3.3

“Information-packed but never didactic … Fluid writing and straightforward storytelling make this a pleasure to read … Thoughtful and engaging.” —Kirkus, starred review

“Carter strikes a splendid balance in character development … Background and cultural information are seamlessly woven into the narrative …” —School Library Journal