Building Confidence

In Paul Harbridge’s new story Out into the Big Wide Lake, inspired by his sister Linda, readers get to experience summer on the lake. Impeccably illustrated by Josée Bisaillon readers will be dreaming of the cool breezes of a summer on the lake.

Out in the Big Wide Lake is a longer story so probably one best suited for children who enjoy getting lost in a book. If your child has a limited attention span, you may want to take this book in chunks, like you would a novel. On the dedication and information page Paul Harbridge provides a sweet author’s note about his sister Linda who has Down Syndrome and all of her amazing accomplishments. In this story, readers understand that Kate may have challenges that allow her to see the world from a different perspective but readers are not explicitly told that Kate has a disability. Readers get to see Kate blossom with confidence and see how much she helps out her grandparents and brings a family together. Another wonderful intergenerational story from a unique perspective. This story is never short on adventure and suspense, keeping the reader engaged throughout. Kate navigates the lake and the summer, helping Grandpa and Grandma and building her confidence and self pride. 

The illustrations move this story along with the beautiful large spreads giving readers a taste of summer on a lake and the adventure and beauty of being out in the country. Josée Bisaillon is the most adept artist to encapsulate the natural world in her illustrations. There is so much depth to her work, inviting the reader into the natural world and allowing them to live for a time on the lake with Kate.