Seldovia Sam and the Very Large Clam

April 1, 2004
Gr 2-4-This title presents a glimpse at the life of a young boy and his canine pal. During his quest for a giant clam, Sam forgets his dad's admonition to be watchful of the tide, and he and Neptune become stranded on a small island. There is a bit of suspense as Sam struggles to free himself from clam-bed muck while the water rises, loses his new too-large boot, and makes his way to safety with one bare foot across rocks and broken shells. The moments of tension are balanced by a homey denouement featuring the cooking of the hard-earned giant clam, and the surprise reappearance of the lost boot. The Alaska setting, where Sam's mom is a bush pilot and his fisherman dad is pictured as man enough to don a frilly apron while making chowder, is described in detail and adds flavor to this beginning chapter book. Meissner's black-and-white cartoon-style watercolors are a bit subdued, but the story should find a readership.-Sue Sherif, Alaska State Library, Anchorage

Copyright 2004 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.