Paddle-to-the-Sea
by Holling C. Holling · Grade 3-5 · Ages Ages 8-10
A young boy carves a small wooden person in a canoe and names him Paddle-to-the-Sea. He sets the little canoe on the snow, hoping the spring melt will carry it through rivers and the Great Lakes all the way to the ocean.
Key vocabulary
A paddle is a tool with a flat end used to push a canoe or boat through water.
A canoe is a narrow, lightweight boat that people move with paddles.
A current is moving water in a river, lake, or ocean. It can carry things along.
A harbor is a safe place near land where boats can stop and rest.
A lighthouse is a tall building with a bright light that helps guide boats safely.
A freighter is a large ship that carries heavy things like grain, coal, or supplies.
A tributary is a smaller river or stream that flows into a bigger river or lake.
Rapids are parts of a river where the water moves very fast over rocks.