Yellow Kayak by Nina Laden and Melissa Castrillon
Published: Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books, 2018
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Author Nina Laden is a friend of a dear friend of mine who gave my daughter Nina’s classic board book Peek-A Who?
In the story, an unnamed child climbs aboard a yellow kayak with a giraffe from a small island and has an adventure on the water. They ride out a storm, stay afloat overnight, and take in the wonders of nature. It’s a simple journey told in rhyme that lets the illustrations do most of the talking.
This is the second book I’ve purchased by Nina Laden that was illustrated by someone else, artist Melissa Castrillon. Castrillon works in bold colors and patterns reminiscent of elaborate, handmade fabrics. Her pictures perfectly capture the sense of wonder and marvel a child might experience among hosts of whales, jellyfish, octopi arms and rolling waves of migrating salmon. At her book signing, Nina told us it was Castrillon’s idea to add the giraffe and its inclusion is inspired.
Nina Laden lives on an island in the Pacific Northwest and that’s reflected in the environment. The yellow kayak passes lighthouses and rising, pine-crested islands on its journey through what is unmistakably Puget Sound. For a taste of northwest island living, Nina’s Instagram is almost as delightful as her books, featuring food with native ingredients, beachcombing, views of the water from her porch, and rustic, gluten-free desserts.
Once in a while, there’s also a picture of her beloved kayak. Kayaking is a popular pastime in the area we live in; I do it myself every summer, and I can identify with the book’s themes of freedom and discovery. My viewpoint is biased but I recommend finding Yellow Kayak