Old Salt, Young Salt [Hardcover]

Jonathan London (Author), Todd L. W. Doney (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 16, 1996 | Age Level: 3 and up | Grade Level: P and up

For Aaron and his dad, setting out from Bodega Bay, a fishing trip can bring everything from seals basking in the sun to a whale breaching the water to getting a little seasick--not to mention catching your first salmon! Filled with adventure and humor and the special camaraderie between a boy and his father, this is sure to become a favorite.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 2?As their father/son motorboat trip begins, Aaron feels deflated because he isn't allowed to help launch the boat. But his dad gets seasick out on Bodega Bay and injures himself, and Aaron's smart independent actions enable him to salvage the trip and catch his first salmon, too. The adventure's end finds the youngster proud and empowered with the nickname of "Young Salt." London uses a few recurring symbols (like the sun behind the clouds), which he evokes with a sweet, poetic touch. The rhythm of the story is effective at mirroring the flow of power and leadership from father to son. Too bad that the incidents incapacitating the man come out of nowhere, forced and contrived (why is a self-proclaimed Old Salt getting seasick, anyway?), and disappear just as abruptly. As in The Stone Lion (Scribners, 1994), Doney's paintings are powerful at conveying characters' moods amplified in the setting's magnificence. The best thing Old Salt has going for it is the beautiful authenticity of Aaron's facial expressions, particularly when the boy is reacting to his dad.?Liza Bliss, Worcester Public Library, MA
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Ages 5^-8. Aaron and his father go fishing on Bodega Bay. Pushed out of the way when launching their boat, Aaron smarts at the insult of being too young to help. However, it is the "old salt," once a navy officer, who becomes seasick and the "young one" who lands the big salmon. This irony adds a humorous twist to the familiar premise of a son proving himself worthy. The illustrations don't always follow the text successfully, and the perspective is sometimes off: the salmon is disproportionately huge, larger than the whale. Later, the drama of the return to the beach is not pictured; instead, the title page illustration is repeated. Despite these problems, the story portrays a warm, important moment in a father-son relationship. Linda Perkins

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 3 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins; 1st edition (August 16, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0688129757
• ISBN-13: 978-0688129750
• Product Dimensions: 11.4 x 9.6 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,669,920 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Old & young Salt, June 6, 2009

By 

S. J Parker (Edmond, Ok) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Old Salt, Young Salt (Hardcover)

This is a great book about a father & son. Though the story after much pleading of the son to take some responiblity, the father finally gives up some control & lets the boy prove himself.