# The Fishermen, the Horse, and the Sea - Hardcover

by **Barbara Joosse** (Author), **Renée Graef** (Illustrator)

Young Lester Smith is part of a fishing family on Lake Michigan. He loves playing on the beach with his little sister, helping Mama with chores, and watching the neighbor's big horse pull Papa's fishing boat onto shore. But Lester understands that the lake can be "soft as a kitten one day and terrible as a sea monster the next." On the autumn equinox of 1895, a wicked storm rolls into Port Washington, damaging a schooner on the lake and putting the lives of its two crewmen in danger. Will Lester, his family, and the horse save the day?

This beautifully illustrated children's book based on a true story recounts a dramatic rescue on Lake Michigan and introduces young readers to Lester Smith and his family, who founded Port Washington's long-running and beloved Smith Bros. Fish Shanty. Educational materials including definitions, an illustrated map of Lake Michigan, and short biographies of the story's featured characters supplement this engaging story for elementary-age readers.

### Author Biography

Barbara Joosse is an award-winning author of more than fifty books for children. She lives in Port Washington, Wisconsin. Renée Graef is an award-winning illustrator of more than eighty books for children. She divides her time between Los Angeles and her home state of Wisconsin. Joosse and Graef's previous collaborations include _Everybody's Tree_ and _Lulu & Rocky in Milwaukee_. Graef also illustrated the Wisconsin Historical Society Press book _Sport: Ship Dog of the Great Lakes_.

**Number of Pages:** 32

**Dimensions:** 0.47 x 11.1 x 9.21 IN

**Illustrated:** Yes

**Publication Date:** September 30, 2021

## Details

- **Price:** 17.95 USD
- **Vendor:** Books by splitShops
- **Type:** Books
- **Tags:** Books by splitShops, Shopify Collective

## Variants

| Variant | Price | Available |
|---------|-------|-----------|
| Default Title | 17.95 USD | In stock |

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> Updated: 2026-07-23