Parents' Guide to

Flotsam

By Patricia Tauzer, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 4+

Underwater fantasy world revealed in magical watercolors.

Book David Wiesner Picture Book 2006
Flotsam Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

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What's the Story?

While a boy is digging for crabs, a wave sweeps him off his feet and deposits an underwater camera on the sand in front of him. After he recovers, he has the film developed and is captivated by what he finds. Ultimately, he tosses the camera back into the sea, where it's carried away by various creatures until it again washes ashore for a new child to find.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: Not yet rated
Kids say: Not yet rated

With no text to interfere, this book's expressive, sensitively painted watercolors tell the story as words never could. And the magic of the boy's imaginative, somewhat surreal photos is intriguing and will amaze the reader.

David Wiesner is a talented, clever, prolific artist with a self-avowed passion for what he calls "wordless storytelling." He manages to pack his pages with details variously framed and set up like a comic book yet masterfully placed to create the rhythm of a classic tale. Of all Wiesner's books, Flotsam in particular reflects his fascination with what comes before and after a picture. It's simply captivating. There's so much to explore on each page.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the things the boy finds in the ocean and the adventures he has. What kinds of things does he see?

  • Have you had any adventures like the boy's at the beach?

  • Can you tell what's going on in each picture? Can you make up your own stories behind it?

Book Details

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