PPBF: Float

Today's Perfect Picture Book Friday pick



Wordless masterpiece Float, by David Miyares

Float
Written and illustrated by Daniel Miyares
Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers, 2015
Ages 4-8, 48 pages


Themes:
wordless, outdoor, exploration


Opening:
This book is wordless, but the story opens with a dad making a newspaper boat for his son on a rainy day.


Synopsis:
From the Amazon description:
"A little boy takes a boat made of newspaper out for a rainy-day adventure. The boy and his boat dance in the downpour and play in the puddles, but when the boy sends his boat floating down a gutter stream, it quickly gets away from him...the little boy goes on the hunt for his beloved boat—and when the rain lets up, he finds himself on a new adventure altogether."


What I Love:
It's difficult to put into words the power of pictures. Simon & Schuster has posted a selection of spreads from the book which convey some of the magic of Float.

The graphic style and use of the bright yellow raincoat to define the character are an homage to Snowy Day, and yet so much more.

Plus-endpapers! Daniel uses his brilliantly, as an invitation to participate in the story, instructions for your own newspaper boat and...well, that would be giving the ending away.


Bonus:  

1. Origami Instructions gives step-by-step photos as well as a video for folding your own paper boat or look on OrigamiPie for a printable chart.
2. You'll find an in depth interview with the author/illustrator on Seven Impossible Things, a radio interview on KCUR, and a podcast on All The Wonders.
3. Reading Rockets features a great post on how to share a wordless picture book with children.
4. Why stay inside? Try splatter painting with raindrops from LittlePageTurner or an outdoor mud pie kitchen from WilderChild.
5. Prefer indoor board games? Mr.Printables invented a Chutes and Ladders spin-off called Rain and Rainbows.
6. This is the perfect time to introduce kids to Gene Kelly: Watch Singin' In The Rain, or at least show them this clip of the famous musical number. While you're at it, why not memorize the steps and act it out during your next downpour?
7. Study the weather with a homemade rain gage from Imagination Tree.
8. Check out these and more Perfect Picture Books at your local library.



 



Reviewed by Clarike



Reviewed by Beth



Reviewed by Kerry

Reviewed by Joanne



Reviewed by Sue

Reviewed by Mary





Link to NPR

Link to Goodreads

 

Have you reviewed a Perfect Picture Book along this theme? Please leave the link in the comments below. Thanks!

Check out all the recommended titles for Perfect Picture Book Friday
for Friday, April 29, 2016 available on Susanna Leonard Hill's blog.