In the deep, deep waters of Lake Superior is a small island of hummingbirds, pines, and hardy Norwegian fishing folk. On that island lives a boy named Carl who wants nothing more than to be out on the water in a boat of his own making.

So this is a story of sawing, nailing, and sanding. But because Sand Island neighbors are closer than cousins, this is also a story of picking strawberries, moving rocks, and mending fishing nests as fine as lace. Illustrated with lovely, lyrical paintings and told with a poet's attention to sound, this story of hope and help will resonate long after the last page is turned.

From the dust jacket