Jip Ahoi! Door Cale Atkinson.

Als Jips vader ziekt wordt kan ze niet anders dan zijn taak overnemen; het bezorgen van flessenpost aan de zeebewoners. Hoewel Jip echt niet durft (ze is bang voor de enge wezens die, volgens haar, onder water wonen) gaat ze met een bang hartje toch op pad. Wat er dan gebeurt lees je in dit kleurrijke prentenboek.

De combinatie van het spannende, avontuurlijke verhaal en de kleurrijke, gedetailleerde tekeningen maken dit tot een boek dat je vaak kan (voor-) lezen. Er valt veel te ontdekken. Het is vlot geschreven in een naar poëzie neigende taal, leuk bij het luidop lezen.

Cale heeft een aanmoedigend, empowerend verhaal geschreven voor alle avonturiers met een klein hartje en grote dromen. Ze moedigt klein en groot aan om zelf spannend verhalen te gaan beleven; mooi! ( )

From cover to cover, this was a grand adventure filled with mysterious messages, hidden dangers, and a WHOLE lot of heart! Jo's Dad has a unique job....making sure messages in bottles get to their intended recipients. But what happens when the messenger is sick? Who's going to take over the reigns and get the job done? Jo? Oh no...she's got a massively active imagination and let's face it, you can't exactly see what's below the seas now can you? Right, so there you go...but if not her, than who? This charming tale reminds us that sometimes it's not about us or our fears, but about the greater good and the ability to help a friend in need is a great thing indeed. Be sure to check out the artwork that adorns each page as it's truly magical...and don't forget to look for the "undie" cover for another surprise!


**copy received for review ( )

I follow Cale Atkinson on social media platforms so I knew Off and Away was making it's way into the world and could not wait to grab a copy of my own. We are huge fans of Cale's work because it is always so detailed with so much to see and find. Each reading of one of his fabulous stories reveals something we missed the first few times.

Off and Away, published by Disney-Hyperion is the story of Jo who's dad is a message in a bottle delivery man. When one day he comes down with a severe sea cold, Jo is left to deliver the messages for him. The only problem is Jo has never done that before as she is too terrified of what lurks below the water's surface. Mustering up all her courage, she sets sail.

It's a perfectly simple little story of courageousness and facing one's fears with so many surprises in store. Off and Away makes a fabulous read aloud and a great cuddle up story. We brought it on vacation with us and had to read it multiple times a day. The art is engaging and surprising, making us chuckle all the way through (penguins in bowties!!). Cale Atkinson's books simply make us feel good: they make us smile, they bring us joy, and they deliver messages of kindness, bravery, and friendship. His books always have a clever surprise under the jacket which carries through the theme of the book. Cale Atkinson's books are must haves in our home! Follow him on Twitter @2dcale for behind the scenes looks at process art from his picture books and sneak peaks at his upcoming work. ( )

Jo and her dad lived in a part of the sea where messages in bottles collected, and her dad ran "Off & Away," a delivery service that made sure these stray missives found their appropriate recipient. Jo admired her dad, but never joined him on his journeys, being afraid of the monsters she believed to be lurking underneath the ocean surface. Then one day her dad came down with a terrible cold, and it fell to Jo to attempt to conquer her fears, and deliver the lost bottles...

Off & Away, Canadian author/illustrator Cale Atkinson's newest picture-book, is an absolute delight! The story is entertaining, with an engrossing plot-line sure to speak to young children with fears of their own. The idea that our perceptions don't always accurately represent reality, and that if we get out into that scary world to explore for ourselves, we'll find it's not so frightening after all, is highlighted in the tale. The digital artwork is colorful and immensely appealing, beautifully capturing the magic, both real and imagined, of Jo's watery home. Recommended to Atkinson fans, and to anyone looking for stories about conquering our fears. Given the theme of messages in a bottle, it might pair nicely with Michelle Cuevas and Erin Stead's The Uncorker of Ocean Bottles, which explores a similar idea, albeit in a different way. ( )