A delightfully quaint story that spans several generations of family life on an island. Be prepared for a possible sniffle at the end.It is a beautiful and full narrative so the reading of this book will take longer than most picture books.Ages: 5 - 9**Like my reviews? I also have hundreds of detailed reports that I offer too. These reports give a complete break-down of everything in the book, so you'll know just how clean it is or isn't. I also have Clean Guides (downloadable PDFs) which enable...

The story is fairly predictable. Nothing struck me as very distinctive ... but kids would probably take note of 12 siblings sharing one bedroom, raising a seagull, ... maybe the homeschooling, but probably not since that's become fairly common.There aren't any author notes. I'd like to know if this is based on the lives of the author's family or someone she knew, or maybe a combination of several local families.There's a carefully drawn map with lots of detail that shows numerous islands but it

Delightful! Every time I am asked to read this book, I am reminded of what a jewel it is! The large homeschooling family, the love of the land and the love of family. . . Cooney has blessed our family with many favorites. . . .hard to pick a favorite but this is definitely one of them!

I liked the story, and the illustrations were great as always. However I thought it ended a bit abruptly, and it wasn't as good as I had expected coming from the same author as Miss Rumphius.

Always one of my favorite picture books as a child, it still holds a special place in my heart. Beautiful pictures, a sweet story, whimsical and heartbreaking and perfect. I especially love the descriptions of the farm and the big family and the pillow fights. :)~Kellyn Roth, Reveries Reviews

This is a realistic story that reads like a family history from many years ago. The Maine setting gives us a glimpse of a bygone era and the illustrations are gorgeous. While the story is not destined to be as cherished as other books by Barbara Cooney (like Miss Rumphius), it was certainly a worthwhile read. We enjoyed reading this book together.

Excellent story with good morals. Loved the large family theme. The illustrations were absolutely beautiful!

This book feels like a novel shortened down to a picture book. The characters are intriguing, the illustrations remind me of Grandma Moses' work and the world it's set in is one I'd like to visit. But the book is like broth, it's pleasant but it leaves you wanting more. There are several instances that feel like they could have been developed into books of their own. I can't imagine children enjoying it, but I've been wrong before.

Matthais, the youngest of 12 children, loves Tibbetts Island where he grows up. Although he dreams of adventures in traveling and even works on a schooner when he gets older, he eventually returns to the island. He brings back a schoolteacher, whom he marries and they have children. This story is mainly about generations that live on Tibbetts Island and the ties between them. It also describes the daily chores of living in this seacoast town, which is most likely in Maine.Barbara Cooney is one o...

This is a sweet book about a man's life growing up on an island. This is a great book for more advanced elementary readers and book to teach about historical fiction. This would also be a interesting read aloud book for students as well! The illustrations and story are wonderful. This is great addition to any classroom!

Island Boy was one of my favorite children's books growing up. The illustrations are breathtaking and the story is exquisite. It shows an idyllic life, but not one without hardships and trials. Family, hard work, a "country" lifestyle- it is honest and uplifting, inspiring and true. I was so excited to find a nice, hardcover edition at a library used book sale. Can't have enough copies of this book!

Island Boy is a 1988 book by Barbara Cooney. It tells the story of a boy named Matthias, who travels around the world but eventually returns to his home on Tibbetts Island in Maine. This is a story about your heart always being at home. It's also about adventure and learning about who you are.

A story of island life, we follow a young boy throughout his life and see the changes that come to the island. Barbara Cooney's illustrations are beautiful but this book wasn't as enjoyable to me as most of the ones I have read by this talented author and illustrator. I didn't like the way a young bird was assumed an orphan, it's parents were probably nearby and should have been left, not a good message for children. There is a slightly sad feel to seeing someone's life flash by over a few pages...

Text heavier than modern books but sweet story of home, hard work and family in old New England. Love the illustrations.

45 months -Wonderfully illustrated in Cooney's American folk art style. We enjoyed the story and wondered if she was influenced or was giving a nod to the Little House books. It seems curious that the family had a pair of oxen named Star and Bright, the same names a young Almanzo gave his oxen in Farmer Boy. They were the only animals named. Also the home schooling by the Mother and use of slates by the children... Maybe we are just too into the series at the moment. One odd thing about that ill...

This is a cute book! It is about a family that comes to an island and build a house there and it becomes a family home. The youngest boy grows up and brings his family there and raises his family there too and then his children raise their family there. I just think it is a good book because it shows you how important family is.

A touching story of the life of a young boy born and raised on an island by a farming family with lots of kids (he was the youngest). When he is grown he goes out into the world and travels, but always the island holds a special place in his heart.Nice illustrations.

I loved this book. It was such a nice book to read about the life of a family that settled on an island on the east coast and it takes him through his whole life. It shows how his family lived, how life changed around the island as he grew and the life and times of the area. It shows the cycle of life in a very clear, simple and honest way that is easy to talk about with the boys. Of course Barbara Cooney's illustrations are really wonderful too.

My favorite Barbara Cooney book. I still read it often.

We love Barbara Cooney and enjoyed the gentle pacing of this sweet book about a family living on an island and the different directions the children take....since we live on our family's ancestral land, I identified with Island Boy very much!