Come Again, Pelican

By Don Freeman

From the creator of Corduroy, a newly restored classic picture book that celebrates a child’s bond with the natural world.

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Available Formats:: Hardcover; Ebook

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About The Book

Every summer Ty’s family came to camp in their trailer at the same beautiful spot on the white sand dunes by the ocean. And every year, as long as Ty could remember, the same old pelican had welcomed them. This year, as soon as the trailer was parked, Ty pulled on his shiny red wading boots and ran with his fishing pole to look for his friend.

“Be sure not to lose those new boots of yours,” his father said. And Ty didn’t – not really. But by the time the tide had quietly crept in and as gently flowed out again, some surprising things had happened and both he and the pelican had made unexpected catches. What could they have been to make both boy and bird so happy when each swapped his catch with the other?

Pictures full of space and light and the shining colors of sky and sand and sea help to tell the delightful story of Ty's adventurous afternoon.

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About The Author

Don Freeman

Don Freeman, the creator of Corduroy and other beloved storybook characters, wrote and illustrated over thirty children’s books. Read More

Acclaim

The colored pencil lines and bright, warm colors of the vintage illustrations ensure that this picture book honors a love of the sea. Ty has summered on the same beach with his family for years but never caught a fish. Following the lead of a beach mainstay, an old pelican, Ty learns about fishing, the tides, and the importance of paying attention. The illustrations beautifully capture a day at the beach, from the pale pink of dawn to the wine red of dusk.

Foreword Reviews
An author and illustrator of many delightful books here presents one of the most lucid pictures of the ocean's tidal movements and their effect on one little fisherman. In the company of a friendly pelican who demonstrates his own skill as a fisherman, Ty parks his boots on shore and himself on a pole and waits for a bite. As the tide rolls in, it carries the red boots out and Ty with hook, line, and sinker retrieves one, enclosing a perfect fish. But the trick of the day is performed by the pelican, for as the tide rolls out and Ty walks back to his trailer, the delightful bird perched on a dune opens its mouth and returns to him the other boot.

Kirkus Reviews
Freeman captures the wonder of children and their innocent natures, trying so hard to do good. The colorful illustrations are wonderful.

Kiss the Book Jr.
A small boy takes fishing lessons from a pelican on a wind-swept beach. His first fish, caught by accident in one of his new red boots, goes to the teacher as a reward for retrieving the other lost boot. The story, told with simplicity, humor, and originality, and the illustrations make the perfect blend of text and art that distinguishes a true picture book. The changing pattern of light on sky and water from early morning until night is caught in some of Mr. Freeman’s loveliest pictures. Excellent.

Library Journal
The simplicity of the story lends itself to a bedtime or naptime read. It is a treasure that I can imagine kids will want to listen to numerous times. First published in 1961, this story holds its own. It is not dated by either story or illustrations.

Youth Services Book Review

Reader Reviews Write a Review

Through simple prose and his signature sketch-style illustrations that use every available color, Don Freeman once again captures our imagination in... Read More

Review of Come Again, Pelican

Through simple prose and his signature sketch-style illustrations that use every available color, Don Freeman once again captures our imagination in a tale that highlights the wonder of the natural world. Come Again, Pelican tells the story of Ty, a young boy setting out to catch his first fish. He meets up with Pelican as he does every summer. This time, Ty will take a fishing lesson from his friend. In the process, they both lose something special. In the end, they find what they lost when they find each other again. Readers of all ages will enjoy this story of patience, perseverance, and enduring friendship.

Amy Nicholson

Amy Nicholson
I've loved Don Freeman's books for some time and have read them to both my children and grandchildren over the years, so I was pleasantly surprised... Read More

Review of Come Again, Pelican

I've loved Don Freeman's books for some time and have read them to both my children and grandchildren over the years, so I was pleasantly surprised to find he'd written another lovely children's story. Come Again, Pelican, is the story of a young boy who visits the beach with his family. Upon arriving, he remembers things that are very familiar to him, including a favorite bird. The story is sweet and enforces character traits of kindness, diligence, patience, and hope. I think children of all ages will enjoy this book but especially those between the ages of 3 and 10.

Bonnie Annis

Bonnie Annis