First Mate Lenny by Elayna Carausu, illustrated by Sandra Eide

Title: First Mate Lenny

Author: Elayna Carausu, illustrated by Sandra Eide

Genre: Fiction

Publisher: Puffin Australia

Published: 5^th December 2023

Format: Hardcover

Pages: 32

Price: $19.99

Synopsis: Ahoy! Come on board as little Lenny learns the ropes of life at sea.

In the cabin of a home on the sea, Mama leans over Lenny. ‘Welcome,’ she whispers, as lapping waves rock the boat like a cradle.
For little Lenny, life at sea is one big adventure. There are dolphins and turtles, tropical islands and sandy beaches all waiting to be discovered. There are storms and other things that seem scary or new, too. But Lenny soon learns to be brave and to love sailing around the world with his loving family.
Elayna Carausu sails the world and shares her adventures on Sailing la Vagabonde. Here is a tribute to Lenny, her first child and first mate, and their shared love of the sea.

~*~

Lenny lives on a boat with Mama and Daddy, sailing from one place to another around the world on a grand adventure. As they sail around the world, Lenny grows and learns about sailing, becoming his dad’s first mate, making new friends, learning about the world, and overcoming his fear of storms.

Lenny’s world is populated with turtles, dolphins, tropical islands, and sandy beaches – and as he discovers them in the story, his world opens up, and he makes new friends on beaches and at school. The story centres on a small family world, where everyone is connected to each other and the world around them. It also explores an environment that is everywhere in the world. In some places, it is the same, yet in other places it can be wildly different.

The gentle story goes through the different things Lenny does as he grows up on the boat, and whilst it isn’t in rhyme, there is still a sing-song quality to the story, making it feel gentle and calming. And it also explores the things children can find fun or be anxious about in a safe way through Lenny’s adventures.

Elayna’s story is based on her adventures with her son on their boat, and it is a tribute to him and what they have done. The story is coupled with bright, evocative illustrations by Sandra Eide. Using a coastal palette of colours, Sandra has brought Elayna’s words to life. Together, the pictures and words tell a fun story about a young boy whose life is an adventure, and what it means to be part of a family who loves to head off across the sea and the things they do. It is a book that can be used in many contexts, to teach readers about the different ways of life people read, or that the world is a vast place, and that everywhere has a sense of wonder and is somewhere to explore, whether through books or out there in the world. A lovely book that I hope many will love.