Flotsam

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."

David Wiesner makes amazing children's books, and this story/art-series is my favorite! Flotsam takes the reader on the most incredible voyage, with different story-lines that will hold the interest of readers of all ages. There are no words, but the detailed pictures tell stories within stories. It starts with an inquisitive boy at the beach, and the most shocking part of the book, is that the young scientist brought his microscope with him! He builds a sand castle then a wave washes it away. But the tide leaves an old camera... and the adventure begins. The camera captures images of the inner workings of sea animals and the interesting side of ocean life that is hidden from human eyes. This book is creative, fantastical, and beautifully illustrated. If you don't love it, you might want to see a therapist.

Flotsam was my first introduction to David Wiesner, when I read this book as part of a mock Caldecott unit for the 2007 Caldecott Medal (my second graders overwhelmingly thought this to be the best illustrated book of the year), and I’ve been a huge Wiesner fan ever since! He manages to weave together a story beautifully and wordlessly told through illustrations. Illustrated in watercolor, the realistic photos draw children and adults in immediately. Each page evokes the colors and emotions of the seashore and ocean as the story connects children not only across the ocean but also across generations. Winner of numerous awards including the Caldecott Medal, a New York Times Best Illustrated Children’s Book Award, and a Kirkus Reviews Best Children’s Book of 2006, readers of all ages will want to read this again and again!

Giving 5 stars because I love this story book, the visuals are stunning, opens conversations with your little ones and let's them tell the story in their eyes, but the book was damaged, as was the replacement. Hard cover was warped on both. Returning.

Meraviglioso! L'autore ha realizzato un'opera davvero bellissima e la sto utilizzando per un progetto scolastico in quarta primaria.

Loved it.

Loved this book and its amazing illustrations. A story without words - it’s great. Thank you David Wiesner for inspiring me to create more illustrations of my own. Your books a wonderful.

Great fantasy book encouring to live creative dreams or make up things

Las imágenes son delicadas, hechas a mano y la calidad del papel muy buena. Es una bonita historia, con elementos de fantasía, sin texto con el que los niños y niñas, o sus madres y madres, podrán relatar lo que le ocurre al protagonista a través de las imágenes por si mismos. No me extraña que su autor haya ganado varios premios.