First Mate Lenny

Ahoy! Come on board as little Lenny learns the ropes of life at sea.

In the cabin of a home on the sea, Mama leans over Lenny. 'Welcome,' she whispers, as lapping waves rock the boat like a cradle.

For little Lenny, life at sea is one big adventure. There are dolphins and turtles, tropical islands and sandy beaches all waiting to be discovered. There are storms and other things that seem scary or new, too. But Lenny soon learns to be brave and to love sailing around the world with his loving family.

Elayna Carausu sails the world and shares her adventures on Sailing la Vagabonde. Here is a tribute to Lenny, her first child and first mate, and their shared love of the sea.

About the Author

Growing up on the remote west coast of Australia gave Elayna a deep love for the ocean and an insatiable curiosity for the world. A musician, scuba-diving instructor and born storyteller, her passion for exploring the sea led her to gigging in Greece and her now-partner of ten years, Riley. Riley was living aboard his 43-foot sailboat - Elayna joined him, and together they've sailed over 50,000 nautical miles, including a voyage across the North Atlantic Sea with Greta Thunberg.

About the Illustrator

Sandra Eide is a children's book illustrator and watercolor artist. She grew up in the Pacific Northwest and currently resides in Nevada. Sandra's artwork is created using a mixture of traditional watercolors, colored pencils, and mixed media. Her illustrations are inspired by nature, culture, and the importance of showing all kinds of people in her work.