I’s the B’y: The Beloved Folk Song

Submitted by christywillim on
Author
Lauren Soloy
Vancouver, BC: Greystone Kids, May, 2022
48 pp., hardcover & ebook, $22.95 (hc.)
ISBN
9781771648332 (hc.)
9781771648349 (ebook)
Grades
Preschool-grade 4
Ages
Ages 3-9
Review by
Rebecca King (Reviewed from Advance Reading Copy)
Excerpt

I’s the b’y that builds the boat,

And I’s the b’y that sails her!

I’s the b’y that catches the fish

And takes ‘em home to Liza.

I’s the B’y is a rollicking dance party of a song from Newfoundland. Lauren Soloy has illustrated the song with traditional Newfoundland scenes, provided simple musical noting, and has added notes to explain some of the more obscure Newfoundland words and customs.

The illustrations employ a rich earthy palette of reds, browns and greens. The cast of characters includes a merman, a moose, a cod, a rabbit, puffins, seagulls and a multicultural group of humans. There is a boy with two prosthetic legs as well. There are clothes and filleted fish on the clotheslines and flakes. Also depicted are rainbows in the spring and skating in the winter. There are musicians on every page.

Twice a group of characters are depicted in a dory. Unfortunately, the rowers are depicted facing the direction of travel. When a dory is rowed, the rowers have their backs to the direction of travel. A small detail, but I found it disturbing.

We enjoyed reading the book in our home. My daughter, my three-year- old granddaughter, and I found ourselves humming and singing the tune and joining in a dance. We even managed to get our tongues around “Fogo, Twillingate, Moreton’s Harbour, All around the circle.” The illustrations were engaging. The sheet music for the song was clear and easy to play from, including chords for guitar or ukulele. The “Notes from the Illustrator” explained a few unusual items, like pink potato salad and mermen. On the whole, I’s the B’y: The Beloved Folk Song is a pleasant souvenir of Newfoundland.

Recommended
Reviewer

Rebecca King, now retired, was the Library Support Specialist for the Halifax Regional School Board. This review was written with the assistance of Rebecca’s daughter Elizabeth and granddaughter Alexandra.