I think it was 2006 when I met Bruce Balan. He and his then-girlfriend (now wife) Alene were cruising the Sea of Cortez on their big red tri, Migration, and just happened to have a nifty computer projector aboard that I could use for my talk on hurricane prep at LoretoFest that year. We crossed paths with Bruce, Alene and Migration a few more times that summer and then headed our separate ways as they headed off across the Pacific (they’re now in Thailand).
But in the time we spent together, I learned that Bruce had written a number of children’s books — quite good ones, in fact. One of them, Buoy: Home at Sea, particularly appeals to cruisers . . . and not just the kids. We’ve kept in touch over the years and I recently learned that Bruce re-released Buoy as an ebook. He kindly gave me a review copy as I hadn’t read it before — I mean, we don’t have kids at home, so why would I have read it?
I was captivated. Yes, technically it is a children’s book, but it’s one that adults will enjoy too. Sort of like the A.A. Milne (author of Winnie the Pooh and others) books or Jonathon Livingston Seagull, it’s a story simple enough for kids yet complex enough — and charming enough — to intrigue adults. It’s won a number of awards, but more than that, it’s just a perfect book for boating kids and those who are intrigued by grandparents’ (or other relatives’) lives afloat.
Buoy: Home at Sea is the story of a sea buoy and his life at sea — guiding the ships away from danger, a visit from a sailboat, a green flash and more. And Buoy has friends — a seagull and a seal — as anyone who’s passed one knows.
I see it as a great read-aloud book — 54 pages in 16 chapters that are each little slices of Buoy’s life with his friends in the sea. A couple of chapters each night under the stars, sitting in the cockpit, making a perfect end to a day afloat. Okay, I’ll admit it, after reading it myself, I read it a chapter at a time to Dave as we sat under the stars. He was captivated, too. Can’t wait to repeat it when the grandkids come to visit!
You can get a copy in print or ebook in a number of places (I’m sure I’m leaving many out):
- Amazon
- Barnes and Noble for Nook
- iTunes for iPad
- Abe Books (good used copies — it’s out of print so there are only used hardcover copies)
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Carolyn Shearlock has lived aboard full-time for 17 years, splitting her time between a Tayana 37 monohull and a Gemini 105 catamaran. She’s cruised over 14,000 miles, from Pacific Mexico and Central America to Florida and the Bahamas, gaining firsthand experience with the joys and challenges of life on the water.
Through The Boat Galley, Carolyn has helped thousands of people explore, prepare for, and enjoy life afloat. She shares her expertise as an instructor at Cruisers University, in leading boating publications, and through her bestselling book, The Boat Galley Cookbook. She is passionate about helping others embark on their liveaboard journey—making life on the water simpler, safer, and more enjoyable.
Sheryl Shard says
Sounds like a really special book. I will check it out.
Sailing with Totem says
this looks so sweet!
Alene D. Rice of s/v Migration says
An update: Migration is currently in Japan (2016), and Buoy was translated into Japanese. It’s been fun sharing Bruce’s book with our Japanese friends.