Imagine being crammed into the backseat of the family car, pyjamas already on, staking out space amidst sisters, knapsacks, blankets and pillows. Excitement is in the air as everyone gets ready to start the long drive though the dark, starry night. Sound like a familiar start to a summer vacation?Join a young girl and her family on a nostalgic journey to her grandparents’ summer cottage on the east coast, where afternoons at the beach and bonfires at dusk become magical, extraordinary events when viewed through the eyes of a child.Heidi Jardine Stoddart holds a Master of Arts degree in Art Education from the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design, and was an elementary school teacher where she grew up, in Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario. She currently lives in Rothesay, New Brunswick and spends much of her time teaching, drawing, painting, and looking for shells at the seashore.

In Return to the Sea, a young girl and her family set off on a summer road trip from Ontario to the Maritimes. On their way to their grandparents’ cottage in New Brunswick they visit many of the most famous tourist attractions east of Ontario: historic Quebec City; the world’s longest covered bridge in Hartland, New Brunswick; the legendary tides of the Bay of Fundy; Peggy’s Cove; the city of Halifax; and Anne’s Prince Edward Island. Everything from the car ride, to pirate stories, bonfires, and bike rides, is cherishingly documented by a young girl.

Following in the footsteps of East to the Sea, Heidi Jardine Stoddart’s Return to the Sea is another enchanting story that captures the wonder and curiosity of a child. Stoddart’s storybook rhyming verse is accompanied by her detailed illustrations making this a perfect tale for all children. In particular, this book makes a wonderful souvenir for boys and girls who have visited the east coast: like the characters in the book, they can remember and recount their magical trip.