Barbara Mitchell’s The Waterman’s Child is a delightful and nostalgic tribute to family, tradition, and the enduring call of the sea. Paired with Daniel San Souci’s breathtaking watercolor illustrations, this book captures the charm and legacy of a waterman’s life in a way that is both poignant and timeless.
The story follows one family across several generations of “Waterman’s Children.” Each child grows up inspired by the honest and courageous work of people who live on and by the sea, yearning to either follow in their father’s footsteps as a waterman or marry into the life of the sea. This inter-generational tale is beautifully structured, with each era’s story framed by pages bordered in colors unique to their generation. This creative design invites readers to see the family’s journey not as separate stories but as interconnected chapters in a legacy of love and labor.
The values woven into the narrative are timeless and heartwarming. Themes of hard work, familial love, challenges from nature and man, and the enduring pull of tradition resonate throughout. Readers are transported into a world where family ties and the march of time exist in harmony, showing how advancements in technology may change how we work but not who and what the families love to work for.
San Souci’s art is a window into the past. His delicate, evocative watercolors capture the details of life in this small humble town with such tenderness and beauty that readers will feel as if they are coming home themselves. The homey, familial feel of the story and the illustrations work hand-in-hand to create a book that is as much a feast for the eyes as it is for the heart.
The Waterman’s Child is a celebration of heritage, the constancy of family, and the progress of time. It’s a lovely choice for families who want to share a story of enduring values and the beauty of life by the sea.
