Flotsam

Flotsam can be defined as material or refuse floating on water. In this Caldecott Award winning wordless book, David Wiesner takes the definition to new heights. The book takes a look at a boy who is at the beach. Unlike many children who visit the beach, the boy brings along a magnifying glass, a microscope and a pair of binoculars. He uses the magnifying glass to befriend a crab and then plans a project using a shovel, a pail and a different crab. A wave knocks him over and supplies him with a new object of interest—an underwater camera with film in it. When the film is developed, the boy finds pictures of mechanical underwater creatures and other incredible scenes. He also finds several photos of other children holding photos. Using his magnifying glass and his microscope, the boy “reads” the history of the camera and adds his own to it. The camera is then returned to the ocean to continue its journey into someone else’s history.

The watercolor illustrations in Wisener’s book are not only colorful, but detailed enough to tell many stories throughout the book. Many of the pictures are displayed in graphic novel style which is attractive to children of many ages. The beach theme of this book will appeal to young and old alike and will tell a new story each time it is opened.

I would recommend this book for students aged pre-K through 3rd grade. The book could also be used with older students in conjunction with a thematic unit.

Key words associated with this book: beach, history, landscapes, underwater, photographs, and shore animals