A picture book by Morwen Tresidder COMING
First fish of the catch goes on the quay edge, for the Bucca — Martha's rule. Jago lets Kit place it. That night a storm turns every boat home safe. And in the morning, on the same spot, something waits.
In The Bucca's Gift, Polperran's harbour begins with a rule as old as the tide: the first fish of the catch is laid on the quay edge for the Bucca. Kit listens hard when Martha says it, and Jago gives him the important job of placing it. Then night brings a storm, and the village waits with the wind at the windows — until every boat comes home safe, leaving morning full of questions.
For children aged four to seven, this is a deliciously read-aloud tale: salty words to roll around the tongue, a repeated custom small listeners can remember, and just enough mystery to make bedtime feel special. The peril is kept at picture-book scale: wild weather outside, trusted grown-ups nearby, and a safe harbour waiting. Kit's careful seriousness adds a smile, while the Bucca remains wonderfully maybe.
As part of Morwen Tresidder's Polperran Tales, The Bucca's Gift offers a first taste of the village traditions that echo through Little Chough Press's age-banded Polperran books. Young readers meet the quay, the fishing families and the hush around old Cornish folklore in a form made for sharing. It touches gently on gratitude, bravery and respect for the sea — threads children can carry as they grow up alongside Polperran.