Families who loved Good-bye for Today: The Diary of a Young Girl at Sea by Peter Roop often look for books with a similar feel. These 20 recommendations were selected for their similarity in style, theme, and reading level.
Reach for this book when your child is grappling with the concept of patience or expresses a deep curiosity about how children in the past experienced the world. This diary style narrative follows nine year old Laura as she travels with her family on her father's whaling ship. It is an excellent choice for kids who feel a sense of wanderlust or those who find themselves waiting for life's next big adventure while stuck in a repetitive routine. Through Laura's eyes, children see that bravery is not just about facing storms, it is also about finding joy in the quiet, mundane moments of life. The story gently introduces historical realities of the whaling industry while focusing heavily on family bonds and resilience. It is a perfect bridge for early readers moving from picture books to historical fiction, offering a relatable voice in a setting that feels entirely otherworldly.
