The illustrations in this book are amazing! The story is about Boris. His parents find him on the edge of a swamp and bring him home to be their child. But years later Boris feels a calling for the swamp. So he leaves home to find himself as he truly is. I can see this as a metaphor for adoption, or even for a trans child, but it’s overt. The only thing that put me off, is that the story seems to end half way though, so the metaphor is not complete. Overall I like the story, I just wish there was more of it.

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One day, a childless couple find a newborn at the edge of the swamp. They do not see any parents so worried about him, they take him home and raise them as his own. They call him Boris. He is a little different as he has gills, but he learns to bike ride, climb trees, and make friends at school just like any other boy. One windy day, the salty smell of the swamp wafts through the air and Boris begins to question his life. Boris leaves home and finds a new family, one with creatures that have gills just like him. Who is his real family? He was not comfortable in the swamp and realized that was not where he belongs either. I love that his adoptive parents tell him they brought him home because they loved him and wanted to keep him safe. I also like that Boris realized that you do not have to look like your family to love them. "Family is where the heart is". The illustrations are wonderful. They are detailed and show the emotions of the characters. They add a lot to the story. This is a wonderful story to share with children who have been adopted.

I had mixed feelings about The Call of The Swamp; on first impressions the illustrations were beautiful and intricate, dominating the pages, mostly on double-page spreads, although with quite a dark and gloomy colour palette.

As for the storyline, I was a little confused by the message that was being conveyed. Boris is adopted by a family when he is found in his swap. He then decides to leave the family to return to the swamp. The family then did not try and get him back. I found this a strange message to send, that a young child can leave the family and that is okay! In the end Boris did return to the family and it's clear again that the message is supposed to be that your family is the people you love, and who love you back. However, this ended quite abruptly without elaborating too much on this, so I feel it would take some discussion with the adult and child to ensure this message is put across properly.

Additionally, I found the sentence structure and wording to be quite mature and adult - one sentence for example: "How much like us do those we love have to be?" - I wonder if it would be beneficial to simplify some of the text.

This beautifully illustrated book is the second I've had the pleasure of reading by Swiss/Italian author & illustrator team Davide Cali and Marcus Somà for the Eerdmans Books for Young Readers series. "The Call of the Swamp" tries to tackle one of the most poignant emotions felt by adopted children- the feeling of belonging. Cali's approach in this short picture book is clearly "less is more." He offers a philosophy of who we love, and who our family is, that is based equally on emotions rather than a bunch of words or platitudes.

My sole reservation about this book, as the parent of an adopted child myself, is the analogy of one's biological family and world being a swamp, which at least in English, has quite a negative connotation. In this sense, from the perspective of a young child who knows they are adopted, I would worry that the underlying message is that where you come from is a stinky, swampy place and you belong here, with your adopted family. Children are quite literal at times and swamp analogy might provide an unintentionally harmful subliminal message. For children adopted from foster care or orphanages, reading this book would require a fair amount of emotional support from and discussion with a parent to be clear that the message of Boris's story is just "you don't have to look like me for us to be a loving family and you belong here because I love you."

This is interesting children book about adoption topic, it opens a lot of space for parents and kids to talk through as well as provides and interesting story.

The plot is about a boy who knows his parents have adopted him and he enjoys living with them, enjoys learning new things such as riding bicycle with others, knowing he is different, but never have felt different among the rest of the kids. Boris knows his parents loves him that’s why they took him home when they found him at the swamp. One day he breathes the air and feels he is in the wrong place and that the swamp is calling him, he leaves and goes to live in the swamp among the others who seems to be similar to him. His loving parents leaves him messages he is still loved even he chose to live elsewhere and one day he realizes swamp is not his place after all.

Which I would see as a stage where adopted child discovers his origins and think it is the place where he belongs, leaving all the “home” feeling he has ever experienced together with his adoptive parents and following his heart. The adoptive parents trust him and let him find his own answers to questions that bothers him and letting him know he is always a loved son of theirs. I think that is a great message to be discussed with parents at young age and it follows as a base for more open conversations between a kid and a parent.

I found the illustrations adorable and unique, so full of details and loads of what to explore mathing the plot line.

the tale of Boris is full of hidden messages that children will learn lessons from this story. The true question is whether you need to look the same as other people, in order to belong. The moral of the story is we can be loved no matter who we are.

the analogy relates to Boris appearance with gills - which can translate into real world examples. The underlying theme is adoption and learning you belong in the world/ home.

Overall, great story! Great illustrations. Would definitely read this to my kids.

*I received an electronic copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I love this book. The illustrations are truly beautiful, full of detail, expression and feeling. They just drew me into every page and made me feel I was right in the scene.

A barren couple find an abandoned little newborn at the edge of a swamp and immediately their hearts bond with him. They decide to take him home and raise him as their very own child. He is different as he has gills and his eyes are bigger than usual. They consider him perfect in every way, a true gift from heaven. They name him Boris.

Boris plays, eats and laughs like any other normal kid. He rides his bike, climbs trees and goes to school just like all the other kids around his neighbourhood. He is happy and content until one day....

The wind blows and the smell of salty air triggers a memory that is buried deep inside of him. The scent of the swamp lures him away and entices him back to his roots.

He walks and walks following the acrid smell. When he arrives at the swamp he realizes this is his home and where he belongs.... or so he thinks. After isolating himself, and after a period of introspection and endless questioning occurs, Boris finally comes to terms with his own truth.

This amazing story is regarding family and adoption. It is a lovely, heartwarming story about unconditional love and being grateful for having that love bestowed upon you. I highly recommend this book.

Sorry but as I said in the note to the publisher the book could not be downloaded on to my advice. I contacted support and they were extremely helpful but still no download. So sorry

Although the tale of Boris (born in a swamp with gills) is fantastical, there are plenty of messages children will glean from reading his story. The basic question posed by the story is simple. Do you have to look like the other people in your home in order to belong? In this day of international adoptions, it's great to have a book that makes the point that it doesn't matter what a person looks like on the outside that unites him to his adoptive family. This truth is discovered by the child. I like that Boris figures this out on his own, and that his adoptive parents allow him the space/freedom to do so. I feel this book would be perfect to read with refugee children (who feel they are in a completely unfamiliar environment) as well as adopted children who are a different race than the parents.

A Story about a little boy who was adopted by parents who did not have gills like his. As he grew up, he felt the lure of the swamp. He began to question who his real family was and if being different meant you couldn't really belong to a family.

An intriguing little book which raises questions that perhaps adopted children would ask. Unfortunately, there were no illustrations in the copy I received, only script. I would have loved to have seen them.

In a lovely adoption story, a creature from the swamp learns that "home is where the heart is". One day, a childless couple find a newborn at the edge of the swamp. He seems to be abandoned or has lost his parents. The happy couple raise Boris as their son. He has gills making him unique, He learns to bike ride, climb trees, and make friends at school. On a windy day, the smell of the swamp wafts through the air. Boris leaves home and is reunited with creatures that have gills just like him. Who is his real family? Boris learns that looking like others does not create family bonds. He now knows who his real family is.

"The Call of the Swamp" by David Cali is an excellent young children's book about adoption. The beautiful illustrations by Marco Soma add to the book's message.

Thank you Eerdmans Books for Young Readers and Net Galley for the opportunity to read and review "The Call of the Swamp".

This title had some of the loveliest illustrations, but I wouldn't call it accessible for the audience it seems to target. It does a good job of raising the question of whether family is those we are born to or those we choose (or those who choose us). This is a question I wrestled with more as a teen and twenty-something. It's caught in the "in-between" since the audience it is seemingly meant for isn't likely ready for it and the audience it could benefit will likely find it too childish. It gets a 3/5 for story but a 5/5 for the beautiful illustrations.

This is a lovely story with beautiful illustrations. It is about being different within a family but still being a precious part of a family.

Obviously this is a story about adoption but it is also a story about love. In a world where difference is sometimes frowned upon or criticised, this story pushes the reader to look beyond the differences and to recognise that home and family are about the place where you are loved and accepted.

It is a good story for children about accepting and loving people who don't 'fit in' or who have some kind of difference. I can't say whether this would be a good story for children who are adopted but perhaps this might make it easier to discuss those issues should they arise.

Altogether it is a simple but lovely story, with lovely illustrations as all children's stories should be.

Copy provided by publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an unbiased review.

Call of the Swamp has themes and values embedded in a way that you don't see coming. I began the book wondering what this story would be and ended it in tears from pure joy in reading. Boris had a struggle that many young children face whether from being adopted our just not feeling connected to their family or tribe. The questions he asked himself were questions that many children have asked before. The way the parents approached his leaving and return was perfect. I can't imagine not having this book in my class and sharing it with parents. Thank you for telling the narrative of children whose stories are too often untold.

I loved the poetry and the storytelling of this book. It was fantastic. It's a winner.

The illustrations are beautiful. I love the theme of the book. As long as you are with the ones you love and love you, you belong and are home. I thought this was a sweet story. It would be great for families that adopt and children with self esteem and perhaps identity issues.

A great story for this children's book. I loved the art style as well.