• Age: 3 to 5
• Grade: p to k
• Reading age: 3 to 5

Tonight I am a bird. A seagull.

A young child is tucked away in bed safe at home and imagines they are a seagull flying high above the ocean and watching over their father, the captain of a cargo ship, while he is away at sea. Tonight, they will journey across the sea to a faraway port. Through storms and calm, clear skies and fog, the bird will watch over the man until his work is complete and he can return safely home.

With stunning illustrations that capture the immensity of freighters and the vastness of the ocean from a bird's-eye view, Cargo is a wonderful reminder of the connection between parent and child even when separated by great distances.

Born in Angers in the Loire Valley of France, Adèle Tariel has devoured books and magazines since she was a child, when she hid them under her duvet to reread after bedtime. A journalist for fourteen years at Playbac Presse, she started writing stories after the birth of her daughter in 2009. She now lives near Paris, France.

Adèle Tariel's profile page

A graduate of the HEAR art school in Strasbourg, France, Jérôme Peyrat uses a combination of techniques to create original and hybrid illustrations. He is the illustrator of numerous books, including Barry and Melvin, Carnivore, Cargo and Bertie & Twig. Jérôme lives in Cernay, France.

Jérôme Peyrat's profile page

• Commended, Bank Street College of Education Children's Book Committee Best Children's Books of the Year

“The poetic text and sweeping art capture the grandeur of the ocean and the immense size of the ship...Varied perspectives, textures, and palettes keep readers engaged and highlight the solitude of traveling the ocean as well as the more complex workings of the ship and shore...A dreamlike journey afar and back home.”

Kirkus Reviews

“Told through thoughtful words and bright, bold illustrations from a bird’s-eye view, Cargo is a touching story about how kids watch over their parents just as parents watch over their kids.”

Hakai Magazine

“Beautifully illustrated…From the cover with its gleaming moon shining as the O of Cargo to that final hug between father and child, this vivid book celebrates the closeness of family, even when separated by distance. Recommended for bedtime stories.”

Children's Literature Comprehensive Database (CLCD)