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Flotsam (Caldecott Medal Book) Review
In each of his amazing picture books, David Wiesner has revealed the magical possibilities of some ordinary thing or happening--a frog on a lily pad, a trip to the Empire State Building, a well-known nursery tale. This time, a day at the beach is the springboard into a wildly imaginative exploration of the mysteries of the deep, and of the qualities that enable us to witness these wonders and delight in them. User Submitted Flotsam (Caldecott Medal Book) ReviewsNovember 12, 2008 Tops my list of children's gifts to give What can be said about a book that speaks volumes, yet includes no printed words? This stunningly illustrated, inspiring story of a boy who finds a magic camera at the seashore and becomes part of a unique chain of story tellers is an enveloping odyssey through time, seasons and truly magical destinations. Wiesner's illustrations are so whimsical they are transcendental, carrying even the most guarded reader into a beautiful world where one is willing to believe that giant starfish islands and underwater street scenes really do exist, simply because Wiesner was clever enough to imagine them. I'm not sure if this book is for children or adults, but both will delight in becoming a part of the author's serene, watery world. October 7, 2008 Wordless story that invites the imagination This wordless story invites the imagination to run free. The illustrations are beautifully done and I was able to set forth onto an underwater adventure! If you are looking to inspire your child's mind, this is the book for you.Mommy's High Heel Shoes September 21, 2008 Finding a Treasure In Flotsam (Clarion Books, 2006), illustrator David Wiesner tells a story that spans the globe and takes in an entire century--all without using a single word. This Caldecott-winning tale, told entirely through water color illustrations, shows how an inquisitive boy makes a remarkable find one day at the beach. While studying a crab in the sand, the boy is startled by a large wave that washes up an unusual treasure--an old waterproof camera. Instead of discarding it as junk, the curious boy develops the film inside the camera and finds a series of unbelievable images. The final picture shows him that, by discovering the camera, he joins in a secret shared with children from various times and places. Wiesner's colorful and imaginative images are a mix of the everyday and the fantastic, prompting readers to, like the story's hero, take a closer look at what they see. Wiesner's story will be well received by any child who has ever dreamed of finding treasure in unexpected places. September 19, 2008 Pictures speak louder than words Pictures speak louder than words in the Caldecott winner wordless picture book "Flotsam," by David Weisner (Clarion Books, 2006). The book begins with an inquisitive young boy at the beach, equipped with magnifying glass, microscope, and binoculars to examine his findings. The boy is excited to find an underwater camera, the developed pictures yielding interesting results: surreal marine life happenings such as an octopus at underwater story time and a picture of a child holding a picture of yet another child, and so on. The reader is taken on a cyclical journey through place and time with the pictures of the children, ultimately ending with the boy at the beach taking a picture of himself and sending it back out to sea for yet another child to enjoy. Readers will not even miss the absence of words; the striking, vivid, and storytelling artwork of the adventure will captivate readers of all ages for years to come. September 15, 2008 Book with no Words I bought this book for a 4 year old niece who loves to tell the story of a book, even if the book comes with a written story. She loves the ocean so this fits into her life experience just perfectly. Wonderful pictures. August 31, 2008 An Entirely Visual Storytelling David Wiesner's ability to tell a story using only illustrations, and fine ones at that, is amazing. When a boy finds an antique camera washed up on the beach, he is intrigued by what images it holds inside. So intrigued, that he takes it to be developed and waits as it's done. The images the camera holds inside reveal a world of fantasy and reality mixed. The final entry the camera reveals is an image of the last child who found the camera on the beach holding a photograph. As the boy looks into the photograph the child is holding, it appears to have an image inside the image of other children holding a picture. He gets a magnifier and looks into the picture and sees an infinite image. Knowing that he must carry on the tradition, he sets the camera up, takes a picture of himself holding the last picture, and throws the camera back into the ocean sending it on it's voyage to be delivered to the next curious child. This work is a wonderful display of imagination and picture storytelling at it's best. July 26, 2008 In the eye of the mind... David Wiesner is the Stephen King of illustrated children's books: off-kilter, weird, and supernatural. However, Wiesner underlies all he draws with humor, joy, spunk. He has won the Caldecott Gold Medal three times, for Tuesday, The Three Pigs, and "Flotsam." This is what is written on the front book flap: "Flotsam: Something that floats. If it floats in the ocean, it may wash up on the beach, where someone may find it and be astonished, and share the discovery with someone else--as David Wiesner shares it with you." And that, my friends, pretty well summarizes "Flotsam" as far as story line goes. However, to appreciate Wiesner's storytelling talent through art, you must "read" the book. First page after the end paper and before the title page is a distinctive picture of a boy beachcombing. The double title page shows findings from a beachcombing expedition. The next page begins the story with a close-up of a hermit crab in front of a huge eyeball belonging to the boy. He's looking, looking, and a huge wave sweeps him over. When it washes back out, there sits a camera with seaweed and tiny barnacles all over it. It's a Melville Underwater Camera. He finds a roll of film in it and takes it to the one-hour photo shop on the beach. What he sees when the film is developed astonishes not only the boy but the viewer as well. It is a picture of phantasmogorical figures of the sea. But the most astonishing is the one of a girl holding a photograph of a boy holding a photograph of a girl holding a photo...He gets a magnifying glass and sees more figures and photos. He gets a microscope and sees more and more and more until it is just a boy in 19th century garb waving to the camera. He takes a photo of himself holding the photograph he had developed and then tosses the camera back into the sea. At the end another little girl finds the camera... Children LOVE the bizarre elements of the story. It tickles their fancy and stimulates their imagination. This is a must book for every child, kindergarten age and up, including mothers and fathers. I have my own copy, as well as Wiesner's other two Caldecott winners. They are a joy to "read." July 9, 2008 Flotsam by David Wiesner Great book, but no words in it. I would have preferred words for my granddaughter to see along with the beautiful pictures. This is truly a picture book! July 1, 2008 Beautiful illustrations!!! Great story left to our imagination!!! I stumbled across this book at the library. The first time I opened it up I was a bit surprised to not see any words and my 2 yr old was not interested in it either. But after I studied the beautiful illustrations, the story unfolded before me. The next time I read it to my daughter and told her the story the way I interpreted it. She likes it now and even helps tell me the story. The people who gave this book a low rating have no imagination. I liked the book so much I decided to buy a copy to keep at home...library renewals only last a short time (hee hee!). June 19, 2008 SPEECHLESS!! When I first saw this book, I was blown away by its ambitious art. From the opening of the page, the readers are treated with beautiful illustration of all the things you might find at the beach. Every brush stroke was ever so carefully applied even to the minute detail as if Mr. Wiesner wanted to create a masterpiece. I'm glad there is no text because that might be a distraction from his every so fine-tuned illustrations; picture does speak for it self. I've read his other book, `The Three Pigs', this book raises the level of illustrations by a couple (which is an understatement) notch, and that book was something to behold. This book truly is an achievement; a well deserved Caldecott Medal winner. For more Flotsam (Caldecott Medal Book) reviews click here.
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