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Town is By the Sea

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Book Synopsis

While a young boy enjoys a summer’s day, his thoughts constantly return to his father, who is digging for coal deep under the sea.

Stunning illustrations by Sydney Smith, the award-winning illustrator of Footpath Flowers, show the striking contrast between a sparkling seaside day and the darkness underground where the miners dig. This beautifully understated and haunting story brings a piece of mining history to life. The ever-present ocean and inevitable pattern of life in a mining town will enthral children and move adult readers, as a young boy wakes up to the sound of the sea, visits his grandfather’s grave after lunch and comes home to a cosy dinner with his family, but all the while his mind strays to his father digging for coal deep down under the sea.

Our Review Panel says...

An interesting and evocative picture book, transporting readers to a 1950s Canadian mining town through the eyes of a young boy.

The boy gazes at the sea in the mornings, always aware that his father is working deep below it in the coal mine. This first-person narrative immerses us directly into the boy’s everyday world, steeped in the legacy of a challenging industry.

Sidney Smith’s sweeping illustrations contrast the shimmering seascape with the darkened world of the mine. This visual juxtaposition powerfully highlights the boy’s unspoken future, stirring profound questions about choice as he wonders at his own destiny.

The rhythmic book offers rich opportunities for discussion in Key Stage 2 classrooms about family heritage, community and whether paths are truly inevitable or open to change. A powerful and thought-provoking book.