Life on the ocean with kids isn’t all sunsets and dolphins… but it’s pretty close.

I’m a sailor mum to two adventurous young boys, and this book is everything I wish I’d known before we set off. From navigating pregnancy at sea and welcoming a new baby far from shore, to homeschooling on a rocking boat, making friends in far-flung anchorages, dealing with visas, and tackling boat repairs with kids underfoot… these are the real, messy, magical moments of raising a family at sea.

Alongside my own journey, Vagabonde Kids shares the experiences and hard-earned wisdom of inspiring cruising families from around the world who have found joy, resilience, and success in raising and educating their children on the water. It’s part practical guide, part honest diary, and all heart — for anyone dreaming of swapping the school run for the open ocean.

ELAYNA CARAUSU has been sailing the world for the past eleven years, traveling over 90,000 nautical miles. She’s now a mother of two beautiful boys, which sparked the inspiration for this book.

The Little Sailor’s ABCs is her first published book and was written at sea where her imagination runs wild. She’s humbled to be able to share little pieces of the experience through this journey from A to Z. She has since published a second children’s book titled First Mate Lenny, which tells the story of her firstborn, Lenny, on his exciting adventure as he learns the ropes onboard.

You can see more of the real life, magical visuals from their voyage in video on YouTube (Sailing La Vagabonde).