Flotsam

Flotsam         

Wiesner, D. (2006). Flotsam. New York, NY: Clarion Books.

Age Level: 4 and up

Genre:  wordless picture book.

Summary:

The word “flotsam” can simply mean, floating objects. This wordless picture book starts with illustrations depicting a curious boy examining ocean life and other objects that have been washed up on the shore. He quickly discovers an antiquated camera that appears to have been in the ocean for years. After taking the film to be developed the boy discovers bizarre pictures of sea life and aliens in uncommon places. The film also reveals pictures of other children posing holding pictures taken of other children with the same camera. The boy leaves his mark by taking pictures of himself and then casts the camera back into the ocean to see what new adventures it takes on!

Refection:

While reading this wordless picture book I found myself narrating it in my head. The bright and vivid illustrations are sequenced in just the right way to keep the reader interested. Watercolor is the illustrator’s artistic means of choice and the artistic style appears to be realistic in the beginning...

and then surrealistic in the middle of the book with the inclusion of pictures of sea creatures in non realistic settings.

 The illustrator chose to change the color from vivid bright colors which show fantasy to black and white to show a change in time. The black and white colors are used to show the pictures of children that were taken in the distant past.

 

This Caldecott Medal Award winning book can be used with many different age groups. Being that it is wordless, pre readers would be able to enjoy this book. Having the students make up their own story to this book would be a great lesson.

The concept of perspective or point of view shown towards the end of the book (shown below) would make a great lesson for older students. This book would also serve as a great art lesson on perspective. I love how this book inspires me as a teacher! There are so many different things you can do with this book!