Nessie - The Perfect Picture Book Buzz #PPBF

I have always been enthralled by stories of The Loch Ness 'monster' and enjoyed the various books and movies about the "sea horse" or sea creature who lives (or occasionally appears) in Loch Ness. So, I was immediately drawn to this book. I was overjoyed to discover the gorgeous landscapes and other resident animals as well. This is a really fun and thoughtful book about Nessie and a beautiful window into a part of the stunning Scottish countryside.

Nessie

Author: Ilse De Keyzer

Illustrator: Dana Martens

Publisher: Clavis Publishing (2024)

Ages: 6-11

Fiction

Themes:

Wonder, magic, folklore, family, and nature.

Synopsis:

Rhona’s uncle Allister comes up with a very original idea to catch Nessie, the famous Loch Ness monster. But . . . does the monster even exist? Uncle Allister thinks so, but Rhona has her doubts. Until she suddenly sees and hears strange things . . . Maybe Nessie exists after all?

Set against the backdrop of the Scottish loch, this atmospheric narrative transports readers to a realm where legends come to life. However, this book offers more than just a thrilling adventure—it's a gateway to exploration and imagination. Through the discovery of folklore and legend, readers are introduced to the rich tapestry of Scottish mythology. Whether nestled in the pages of a book or weaving tales of their own, readers are encouraged to embrace the magic of storytelling and embark on adventures of their own.

Dive into the mysterious depths of Loch Ness in a tale brimming with intrigue and wonder. For children ages 6 years and up who love pancakes.

Opening lines:

Once a year, Rhona goes out for the day with her uncle Alister.

Rhona thinks he's a little odd, but also a lot of fun. He lives in

a small house by Loch Ness, a very big lake in Scotland.

What I LOVED about this book:

The soft, misty watercolor illustrations of Dana Martens are so stunning. From the small opening spot image, showing a little house perched on the shore of a lake as geese take flight and head toward the surrounding mountains, to Rhona and Uncle Allister meeting up to set sail on the lake early in the morning, the illustrations are full of atmosphere, a touch of mystery, and the beauty of nature.

Text © Ilse De Keyzer, 2024. Image © Dana Martens, 2024.

I love that Uncle Allister believes in Nessie, while Rhona is the skeptical one. Though his stated reason to catch Nessie is to "get rich...and be somebody!" or perhaps he just wants the chance to see Nessie himself. Rhona's surprised that Uncle Alister wants to catch something he's never seen and might not even exist. And, though still skeptical, she's a little curious when Uncle Allister mentions he's decided to use pancakes to catch Nessie. After all, "everybody likes pancakes. So maybe the monster does, too!" Using his mother's recipe, he warmed pancakes coated in brown sugar and Rhona happily tossed them into the lake. And even if (gasp!) you don't like pancakes, doesn't this look like lots of fun?

Text © Ilse De Keyzer, 2024. Image © Dana Martens, 2024.

Getting into the excitement of the search, they both react excitedly to a nearby splash. Only to discover that ducks like pancakes, too (as do crows and seagulls). As Uncle Allister moves the boat farther into the lake and makes more pancakes, Rhona peers through the binoculars at the appearance of "Two little hills. No, three . . ." and then the appearance of a head like "a dolphin, but with big, warm eyes like those of a horse." In an expressive, magical moment, they come face to face and all Rhona can muster is "Ooooooh . . . You're real." And though Nessis's big, Rhona realizes 'monster' is the wrong word for it. I love that through her, the child in each of us experiences the magic of interacting with Nessie.

Text © Ilse De Keyzer, 2024. Image © Dana Martens, 2024.

While Nessie's existence is never proven or disproven for Uncle Allister, the look on his face, at the end of the boat trip, is not one of frustration or skepticism. Additionally, when he initially thinks they hear Nessie, he grabs a camera not a net or other capture tool. Which raises the question of whether he's actually seen Nessie before or simply just continues to believe, because sometimes the most amazing things don't have to be seen to be felt and known. This is a wonderfully playful twist on the folklore of Nessie, translated from the original Dutch. The gorgeous, atmospheric illustrations transport the reader into a misty, magical place full of mystery and wonder.

Resources:

• 

  make an origami, finger knitted puppet (finger knitting tutorial), torn paper, or drawn Nessie.

• what do you think drew Nessie to Uncle Allister's boat? How would you have reacted to meeting Nessie?

• if Nessie exists, how do you this it has remained mostly unseen for all these years? If you were Nessie, would you want people to see you?

If you missed my interview with Ilse De Keyzer and Dana Martens on Monday, find it (here).

This post is part of a series of blog posts by authors and KidLit bloggers called Perfect Picture Book Fridays. For more picture book suggestions and resources see Susanna Leonard Hill's Perfect Picture Books.