Johnny, the Sea, and Me
Written by Melba Escobar
and Sara Lissa Paulson
Illustrated by Elizabeth Builes
Published by Enchanted Lion
Pedro has always dreamed of going to the sea. So when his mom takes him on a special trip to a small island in the Caribbean, he’s so happy that he grows an extra inch! But the troubles at home—bullying from classmates and an absent father—find a way to follow Pedro, even on vacation… Overwhelmed, the boy takes to the beach and runs away, hoping to leave his worries far behind.
That’s when he meets Johnny, an islander descended from pirates. At first, Pedro is frightened by Johnny’s imposing appearance and brusque manners. But Johnny, along with his chatty parrot Victoria, takes young Pedro under his wing and shares his island and his stories with him, thereby changing Pedro’s life. Because sometimes, like Pedro, you have to lose yourself to find yourself.
Primary ISBN: 9781592704095
Publication Date: July 2024
Available As: Hardcover, eBook
Middle Grade, Age 08 or older
Community Represented: Colombian/Colombian American
Themes: Accolades & Awards, Accolades & Awards: Youth Media Awards, Coming of Age, Cross-Group Friendship, Family Relationship: Parents, Identity: Body Image, Outdoor Exploration, Own Voices/Lived Experience, Welcoming by Individual
Setting: Colombia (Bogotá), Unspecified (Caribbean Islands)
Character's Place in the Immigration Journey: Home Country
Book Creator(s) Connection to the Community Represented: Own Voices/Lived Experience
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