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Picture Book · Ages 3–5 · 1987
The Boy Who Held Back the Sea
Written by Lenny Hort Thomas Locker , and Mary Mapes Dodge
A boy discovers a leak in the dike, threatening his village's survival. Can he save them in time?
4.0/5 Goodreads · 312 ratings
32 pages
$8.99Save 5%
Bookroo's summary
Jan, a young boy in a low-lying Dutch village, stumbles upon a dangerous leak in the dike that shields his home from the relentless sea. With the threat of flooding looming, Jan must find the courage to act swiftly and decisively. As nature's power challenges human resilience, will Jan's bravery be enough to protect his village from disaster? This retelling of a classic folktale, paired with stunning oil-painted illustrations, captures the timeless struggle between humanity and the sea, raising questions about courage, responsibility, and the power of a single act.
From the publisher
From the award-winning and renowned illustrator Thomas Locker, beautiful oil-painted illustrations pair with this wonderful retelling of the traditional Dutch folktale. Jan had never done anything more heroic than shout for the guard because he’d imagined he’d seen a sea serpent. But when Jan discovered water trickling through a desolate stretch of the dike that protected his low-lying village, he knew he had to act fast. “Visually stunning.”–Publishers Weekly “Locker’s depiction of nature overpowering humanity is especially significant to the story and to the Dutch people who have spent centuries battling the sea.”–School Library Journal
At a glance
- Format
- Paperback
- Pages
- 32
- Reading age
- 3–5
- Audience
- Picture
- Lexile
- AD840L
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The fine print
Book details
Reading levels
- ATOS
- 4.5
- F&P level
- ~T
- AR points
- 0.5
- AR interest level
- LG
- AR quiz
- 169296
Publication
- Published
- March 1, 1993
- First published
- January 1, 1987
- Publisher
- Puffin Books
Edition
- Language
- English
- Type
- Picture Book
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