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dpukansky's review against another edition
4.0
Caldecott 2/3
I cannot stop raving about this book! It was shown to me by a classmate in one of my classes and the ways to use and teach this book are endless! The story can be straightforward, wacky, wonky, or downright crazy. I love wordless picture books for the immense joy that they offer for people of almost all ages.
Since this picture has no words, the pictures and illustrations must portray all 1000 of them. The illustrations are phenomenal. They are bright and beautiful, some of them have such small details that I did not notice them even after staring at the page countless times. It is a truly beautiful story and the pictures are heartwarming and unbelievable.
I had to go buy a copy for my classroom. I cannot wait to teach this story.
I cannot stop raving about this book! It was shown to me by a classmate in one of my classes and the ways to use and teach this book are endless! The story can be straightforward, wacky, wonky, or downright crazy. I love wordless picture books for the immense joy that they offer for people of almost all ages.
Since this picture has no words, the pictures and illustrations must portray all 1000 of them. The illustrations are phenomenal. They are bright and beautiful, some of them have such small details that I did not notice them even after staring at the page countless times. It is a truly beautiful story and the pictures are heartwarming and unbelievable.
I had to go buy a copy for my classroom. I cannot wait to teach this story.
kinsey304's review against another edition
5.0
_Flotsam_ is a Caldecott Medal winner and a Quill Award for Children's Illustrated book winner. Upon "reading" some of Wiesner's books, I truly appreciate his creativity. Illustrations can easily tell a story, but Wiesner goes above and beyond by telling a detailed story in a series of illustrations. I think this book would be suitable for second grade-fifth grade because it is more complex than some of Wiesner's other books. I would use this book as an activity for the children to write the words narrating the story. I think this would help teach them to pay attention to detail and to really analyze a picture book.
The illustrations are very detailed, as they must be in order to tell a complex story without any help from words. The pages are panel styled, and I think this helps to tell the complex story without spending too much time on one illustration. It also contributes to the reader's understanding of the order of events. When the boy finds the old camera and takes it to get developed, I noticed how as he was looking at the picture, Wiesner essentially zoomed in to where it was just his eye and the back of the photo. Wiesner has once again created a fantasy world, one that consists of a mystical underwater world full of sea creatures, aliens, mechanical, and puffer fish hot air balloons. The boy then discovers that he is not the only child to find this camera, as there were many before him. Understanding that this means he must pass it on, he throws the camera out into the ocean, and the sea creatures carry it on to the next child. The mediums used appear to be watercolors and acrylics because while some aspects of the illustrations have a softer appearance, other aspects have a much more detailed, fine line appearance. These aspects are seen in the softer background and the detailed aspects of the characters and their clothing. The styles used appear to be realism and surrealism. The realism style is used to depict the boy and his surroundings as they would appear in real life. The surrealism style is used when illustrating the mystical underwater world. I think this is specifically noticeable when the octopus is sitting in what appears to be its living room. I liked the underwater themed end papers, and I thought there detail was a nice addition to the book overall.
The illustrations are very detailed, as they must be in order to tell a complex story without any help from words. The pages are panel styled, and I think this helps to tell the complex story without spending too much time on one illustration. It also contributes to the reader's understanding of the order of events. When the boy finds the old camera and takes it to get developed, I noticed how as he was looking at the picture, Wiesner essentially zoomed in to where it was just his eye and the back of the photo. Wiesner has once again created a fantasy world, one that consists of a mystical underwater world full of sea creatures, aliens, mechanical, and puffer fish hot air balloons. The boy then discovers that he is not the only child to find this camera, as there were many before him. Understanding that this means he must pass it on, he throws the camera out into the ocean, and the sea creatures carry it on to the next child. The mediums used appear to be watercolors and acrylics because while some aspects of the illustrations have a softer appearance, other aspects have a much more detailed, fine line appearance. These aspects are seen in the softer background and the detailed aspects of the characters and their clothing. The styles used appear to be realism and surrealism. The realism style is used to depict the boy and his surroundings as they would appear in real life. The surrealism style is used when illustrating the mystical underwater world. I think this is specifically noticeable when the octopus is sitting in what appears to be its living room. I liked the underwater themed end papers, and I thought there detail was a nice addition to the book overall.
vbodem13's review against another edition
5.0
Well for starters, this really is the epitome of a picture book, Weisner was the illustrator as well as the author. Although, there really isn't much to read! It is a whole story out of pictures and in the end gives the reader a whole other story to think about. This would be great for a creative writing class even in the older years, getting the students to look through the book and make their own stories along with the pictures and illustrations. The bright and detailed art would work extremely well to keep the interest of a younger reader. I took my time going through the pages and I recommend it to anyone else interested in a beachy journey!
jonnyoring's review against another edition
5.0
Easily his best work, in my opinion. Maybe it's the nostalgia and romance of the Jersey Shore as a child. I love the way he leaves out text so that you are forced to "tell" the story...which eventually leads to Silas telling the story.
dereadergal's review against another edition
4.0
An amazing book that has not one single word yet it tells a great story through wonderful, vivid illustrations.
deservingporcupine's review against another edition
5.0
A great book that takes place at the Jersey Shore. Sort of. We had to explain to the kids what camera film was, which made the whole thing feel a little sad (can the story go on if you can't get film developed anymore?)
jenlabrador's review against another edition
5.0
wonderful book with no words. Pictures are great and make it easy for the child to tell you the story.
saralynnburnett's review against another edition
4.0
What a unique picture book! I loved it! A camera washes up on shore... an underwater camera! When the film is developed you're placed in a fantastic underwater world where starfish host islands on their back, and green aliens live in shells encrusted on the backs of sea turtles. I will definitely be purchasing this for my (future) child.