Flotsam
written and illustrated by David Weisner
Bibliography
Wiesner, D. (2006). Flotsam.
ISBN-13: 978-0-618-19457-5
Brief Summary
Text is totally unnecessary as the story unfolds of a young boy who uncovers a camera at the beach. He discovers that he is but one in a long line of people who make the same find in time past. The storyline emphasizes the importance of connections with people of other cultures in addition to the continuation of time.
My Impressions
This 2006 Caldecott award winning picture book by Wiesner is a splendid work of art! The snapshot-like illustrations utilize perspective in a unique format as well as reinforce the plot.
Reviews
“…Wiesner offers another exceptional, wordless picture book that finds wild magic in quiet, everyday settings...When closely observed, however, the masterful watercolors and ingeniously layered perspectives create a clear narrative, and viewers will eagerly fill in the story's wordless spaces with their own imagined story lines. Like Chris Van Allsburg's books and Wiesner's previous works, this visual wonder invites us to rethink how and what we see, out in the world and in our mind's eye… PreS-Gr. 2.”
-- Booklist (August 1, 2006)
Gillian Engberg Copyright 2006 Booklist
“Two-time Caldecott winner Wiesner (Tuesday; The Three Pigs) crafts another wordless mystery, this one set on an ordinary beach and under an enchanted sea…Masterfully altering the pace with panel sequences and full-bleed spreads, he fills every inch of the pages with intricate, imaginative watercolor details. New details swim into focus with every rereading of this immensely satisfying excursion. Ages 5-8.”
-- Publishers Weekly (July 24, 2006)
Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.
“…This wordless book's vivid watercolor paintings have a crisp realism that anchors the elements of fantasy. Shifting perspectives, from close-ups to landscape views, and a layout incorporating broad spreads and boxed sequences, add drama and motion to the storytelling and echo the photographic theme. Filled with inventive details and delightful twists, each snapshot is a tale waiting to be told. Pair this visual adventure with Wiesner's other works, Chris Van Allsburg's titles, or Barbara Lehman's The Red Book (Houghton, 2004) for a mind-bending journey of imagination…K-Gr 4.”
-- School Library Journal (September 1, 2006)
Joy Fleishhacker, School Library Journal Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.
Suggestions for Library Use
In addition to being a wondrous picture book for young children, this work of art would fit into curricula for older students as well. Besides its use in language arts classes, classes in photography, history, the connectivity of time, global studies, beaches/oceans, and art might find it a great support.
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