OLD SALT, YOUNG SALT

When the men at the shore refuse him the chance to help drag the boat to the water, Aaron recognizes how much he longs to be treated as an adult. During this day's fishing trip, he'll get the chance to earn his sea legs. First, the waves get the best of Dad, and while he's recovering from nausea, Aaron has to steer. Next, Dad gets a bloody nose when he accidentally trips. At the same moment, Aaron feels a bite on his line, and so he's forced to haul in his catch—a large salmon—all by himself, another triumph. Dad takes note of Aaron's accomplishments and lets him commandeer the boat back to shore. Doney's illustrations capture the blue-greens of the sea, and the subtleties of changing light as the morning grows older, but they—figuratively—miss the boat in their depiction of the actions and characters. In the edifying plot, the scenes of the father's illness and bump are written to be mildly humorous, but pictorially become heavy with drama and throw the work off balance. London (Froggy Goes to School, p. 825, etc.) and Doney (illustrator of Barbara Mitchell's Red Bird, p. 691, etc.) have both shone elsewhere, but this may be the collaboration that got away. (Picture book. 6-9)