What do you do when your father does not return from Italy? You look for him, of course.

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Amid the golden era of Dutch art, Clara has a passion for painting and life. But the two don't always mix. Her father is long overdue from Italy with the latest paint recipes, but lies, famous art, rare tulips, and sugary girls crowd Clara's search for her father. Someone knows where he might be, but it will cost more than Clara's talents to find out. This short children's novel by Douglas Jones is entertaining and allows kids to enter into another time period with likeable and exemplary characters. A real treat for young readers!

Canonball Books is the children's imprint of Canon Press. At Canonball, we believe stories are soul food, so you can expect excitement, danger, loyalty, virtue, and family in your Canonball books. Feed your kids the right books!

From the Book:

"It’s not this one. No. It smells too much like fish,' Clara said. Her fingers thoughtlessly toyed with the fabric of her brother’s sleeve. Their Uncle Caspar stared out over the harbor from under the broad brim of his dark hat, but Uncle Hendrick tilted his head and looked over his spectacles at the wooden bulk sitting in front of the four of them; it was a common Dutch fluit ship, newly built that year, 1629.

'Well, it is a fishing boat,' Uncle Hendrick said. He stared at the back of Clara’s head, speaking as if to a slightly mad dog. 'And this is a harbor. Everything here is required to smell like fish. Even my new jacket now, thanks to you.” His words poked holes through the lingering smoke of his pipe.'" -From the beginning of the book