A couple longs for a child, and when they find a sweet baby axolotl at the swamp, they decide to take him home and name him Boris. You know, just normal Stuart Little things. Boris is a "normal kid" up until the day he feels like he doesn't fit in, so he journeys back to the swamp to discover where he truly belongs.

The art was gorgeous and it was a touching story about adoption, but I could not get over the fact that this human couple really just kidnapped an axalotl (LOL). I would have liked to have seen him find his original family or find out what happened there.

Note: I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley. I was not compensated in any other fashion for the review and the opinions reflected below are entirely my own. Special thanks to the publisher and author for providing the copy.

A sweet story about adoption! I think the story has been told in a sensitive manner and discusses questions that many would think think of in a similar situation. Thanks to Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company and Netgalley for the ARC.

The Call of the Swamp is a cute children's story about an axolotl named Boris, who was adopted by human parents who had found him abandoned at the swamp. Poor Boris struggles with some issues of self-identity and belonging as he grows older and goes on a mini-journey of discovery.

I found this book extremely appropriate for the age it was intended with themes and writing that was simple to understand and address. Although it clearly targets identity issues surrounding adoption of children, it allows room for children to form their own opinions and identify even if they were not adopted because of the open-ended writing.

In the end, there almost isn't a conclusion to the story which, as an adult, I can appreciate so much more than a happily-ever-after for a few reasons. The most significant reason why I do like this is - it allows children to decide what happens at the end. They get to finish the story in their head any way they like as well as leaves room for additional books. Secondly, It doesn't instruct or influence the reader to think that everything is going to be a certain way or have a certain ending, which is great because many adoptees have many different "endings" to their stories.

Overall, it was a really amazing story imbibed with humanity and a great narrative that allows young readers to understand and identify with Boris on many levels.

The pictures in the book were wonderfully detailed, and the color scheme of the book was subdued which matched the tone and pace of the story. The images were appropriate and supported the chronology very well.

I did read this book with my six-year old daughter who was able to sympathize and empathize with the story as well as enjoy the pictures as we read.

A beautifully detailed, if slightly odd, story of adoption, specifically the dilemma of the adopted child. Many of us might ask "Where do I belong" and that goes double for adopted kids. Who am I. This book visualizes that struggle.

An adoption story about discovering where your home really is, The Call of the Swamp is a sweetly illustrated tale about an adopted axolotl, Boris. (I am really working the "a" key in this review!) The drawing are beautiful. The story focuses on Boris's discovery that home is where you are loved. My one wish is that the images were a bit brighter and there was one more page Boris decides to head home on the last page but there is never a reunion with his parents.

The artwork is what grabbed me with this one. It was just so beautiful and delicate. The story? Well, let's just say that if reviews didn't talk about this being about adoption, I probably wouldn't have figured it out, because it was not overt and I can be dense at times.

I don't think the story works very well, because the wording was somewhat awkward and the whole adoption thing was very, very subtle. I tried to read it from a whole adoption point of view and honestly had difficultly with it. I am from a traditional family and do not know anyone who has been adopted or gone through the adoption process, so maybe that was what was causing my inability to connect with the storyline. Not the story's fault, completely mine for not being able to stretch to see from that POV.

I find the more I read, the more I have to learn about the world and how others view it.

So this was a good book for helping me to see glaring holes in my thought/imagining process, but I don't know how it would really help a child who was adopted to accept their adoption.

It is sweet and thoughtful, but I don't know how well it works in real life with real children. It is an option and might be helpful. 3, I'm not sure how to rate this, as I just couldn't connect with it, stars.

My thanks to NetGalley and Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company EBYR for an eARC copy of this book to read and review.

The instant I saw this book I knew I would love it. And I did. The story, the pictures, cute little Boris ... I don't know what to adore more. The way this story about a little axolotl boy is told is so whimsical, weird, sweet, and poetic. It is a beautiful book, perfect for autumn, and so precious in its message that family is built out of love, not necessarily blood. Therefore, it could also be a nice present for people who consider to adopt or adopted children.

This is a unique take on an adoption/love makes a family story. I thought the illustrations were beautiful but the story was awkward. My kids didn't really enjoy the story as much as the pictures. I felt like the author was not too descriptive and could have been more clear on certain parts. I did like the the parents lets the boy explore his own feelings and didn't force him to feel or be a certain way. They gave him time and space to draw his own conclusions and come to his own realizations.

This a sort, unusual adoption story. It explores what makes a family. Does your family have to look the same as you, do the same as you, eat the same, dress the same? Or is your family those who love you and you love back? The little boy in the story is figuring this out for himself and wondering where he fits in.

This is a cute and short picture book. The artwork is really beautiful.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35072624-the-call-of-the-swamp?ac=1&from_search=true

The Call of the Swamp by Marco Soma and Davide Cali. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company. When a married couple finds a child unlike themselves at the swamp, they decide to adopt him. Years later, he is drawn back to the swamp. Join him as he weighs his options and chooses between his new family and the loving one he has always had. Thanks to NetGalley and Tanglewood Publishing for providing this ebook for review.

"How much like us do those we love have to be?"

Such a lovely book, beautiful meaning, roughly around adoption on how to appreciate and accept the differences - tangible or not.

The Call of the Swamp by author Davide Cali and artist Marco Somà is one of the most down-to-earth-fantasy children’s books I’ve ever read. Let’s be honest; most children’s books are fantasy—intentionally or not—whether in characters and environment, story, or both. We often offer children encouraging illusions (delusions?) of grandeur and present everything with a happy ending tied up in a pretty bow of one’s choice color. While The Call of the Swamp is certainly fantasy—a kid with gills is picked up in a swamp and adopted by a couple that can’t have children—it leaves plenty of room for personal experience and inquiry. Not all lives are the same, and this simple story doesn’t try to force all adopted kids into one box. Cali tells a story of a child who looks different from his parents and who eventually recognizes his differences in a real way and longs to discover and experience his past. And while he eventually makes his way back to his adoptive parents, there is no clear answer for how one must feel or what one must do. Like I said, it leaves a lot of room for adopted kids and parents to talk and wrestle with their context. Wonderful.

Somà’s artwork is brilliant and will spark the imagination of older children who will recognize things not to be as they really are but represent something much bigger. Again, we have here further fodder for conversation.

I certainly recommend this one.

*I received a temporary, pre-published digital copy for review from Eerdmans Books for Young Readers via NetGalley.

This book speaks gently of adoption and of belonging. It's a quirky, yet heartfelt, tale of figuring out who you are and realizing that it is love that binds people together, that it is love that makes a family. The illustrations are beautiful. I know this story will stay with me. Highly recommended!

Five stars for stunning illustrations and a sweet story about adoption and the love of a family--even when that family doesn't look like you. Boris is an abandoned swamp creature who is adopted by a loving mother and father. Boris starts to grow up and enjoy life with his family.

But one day, he feels the call of the swamp. The fish have gills just like he does. The smell of the swamp seems so familiar. His parents assure him of their love, whatever his choice (to go home or live in the swamp). In the end, naturally, he chooses to go home to his parents, knowing that love is what binds his family together, regardless of differences.

Call of the Swamp was very beautiful picture book with the simple moral of ‘we belonged where we are loved and with those whom we love’. This book conveyed very clear message to children and also to foster/adopted kids that parents love their children no matter how they look or how different they are born, no matter what others say. In today’s world where children feel insecure because of their stand out nature or look, this story gives them insight that they belong where they are loved not where everyone look or behave similar.

I even liked Boris’s parents who were selfless, kind and with big heart. When Boris asked questions, I liked how they showed their love. And once he left, I loved it that they didn’t force him to come back and instead they said we are happy, if you’re. This was also very important message for parents to understand that no matter how much you love your children, you don’t force them for anything, just show your love and support them, and they realizes they are loved and where they belong.

Illustrations were spectacular. Picture of Boris was drawn very nicely and different to help in conveying message. The house and swamp world was also remarkable.

Why 4 star? I’m not contradicting just what I said. But here, his parents send only one message in letters. That was good no doubt, but I feel, there should be more other kind, loving letters too like, mom and dad loves you etc etc. How poor child understood by one message only! I’m damn sure kids need more than just one letter.

Overall, amazing picture book that every children would love to read and definitely best bedtime story.

Who should read it? I recommend it to every child.

I wanted to absolutely love this book but the way the story read left a little lacking for me. The main character just suddenly is bothered by his life and goes to the swamp. I would have liked to see a leading up to it like he noticed how different he was or how others maybe treated him different. Then once in the swamp the same thing an event or something that made him realize that home was the only place he wanted to be back to. I did not like the idea that he showed no emotion for the parents. However the illustrations i feel in love with. The were so cozy and interesting especially since i adore the fish world.

The Call of the Swamp is a very interesting and entertaining book about being different. What happens when you don't think you fit in or look like your family members? This books shows that as long as love is involved…nothing else matters. There are no differences where love is concerned.

This book was a strange one and I like strange books for all ages! I have read The Queen of the Frogs by Cali and really enjoyed it. I love the style of the illustrations - they are sketchy and muted and different from a lot of children's books - but in a good way.

The Call of the Swamp is another gorgeous book - the images are very detailed and have realistic bits and playful bits too. The book is about a kid named Boris learning where he belongs ad what it means to belong. It is a very heartfelt story with questions and some answers, but there are a lot of things to think about while reading this one.

I think that this is geared for an older audience in the children's book realm and I think parents will enjoy this one as well. I appreciated the artistic style and the story was charming and thought-provoking.

Review will be live on the Blog on 9/19

I received this ARC from Netgalley for an honest review.
Boris's parents found him in the swamp. He was a young boy with gills but they loved him and took him home anyway. Boris was a little different than all of the kids, but that was okay. He began to feel like something was missing and wondered why he ever left the swamp. Boris returned to the swamp and though he was happy, he missed being with his family. Exquisite illustrations and a story of family. One of my favorite picture books of 2017.

A couple told they couldn’t have kids find Boris by the edge of a swamp and claim him as their own, without actually checking to see if his real parents are around. After a few years he smells his previous environment and wonders how his life would have been had he grown up there. But after he’s been in the swamp a while he feels homesick for his human parents and house.
Right away it was mentioned that Boris had gills, yet he lives out of water without a problem. I guess the author doesn’t expect kids to get that, but then why bother mentioning it?
As an allegory for adoption, it’s pretty good. Some of the details could have been better, though.
The art is somber gray and yellow, not visually appealing at all, certainly not the bright colors kids expect.