Flotsam by David Wiesner was the 2007 Caldecott Winner. The story in this wordless picture book is cleverly told through vibrant, water-color pictures.
In this story, an inquisitive young boy arrives at the beach for a day of discovery-making. While closely examing some of the living creatures that are on the shore, the ocean waves knock him down and bring with them an old-fashioned camera. Running to a local one-hour photo shop, the boy is able to develop the film from the camera. The processed photos reveal mysteries from below the surface of the water, including mechanical fish swimming alongside real fish and tiny aliens living among seahorses. Also included in the treasury of photos are pictures of children all over the world, who have found the camera in the past. In the end, the boy decides to take his own photo with the camera and then return it back to the sea for the wonderment of future "finders."
I was so impressed with the story in this book, I gave it to my third-grade son and kindergarten daughter to read. They both loved the book! Of course, the level of comprehension was quite different between the two of them. My daughter delighted in the amusement of some of the photos and wondered aloud if they were real. My son delved into the deeper meaning behind the story and immediately saw the cycle, or pattern, within it. In fact, I practically had to pry it out of his hands at bedtime because he was so interested in examining the illustrations more closely.
References:
Weisner, D. (2006). Flotsam. New York: Clarion Books.
Booksamillion. com. (2007). Retrieved on February 9, 2008, from http://www.booksamillion.com/ncom/books?pid=0618194576.
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