A bright, science-minded boy goes to the beach equipped to collect and examine flotsam--anything floating that has been washed ashore. Bottles, los...
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reviews
Feb 08, 2011
Ceridwen
rated it: 
I snatched this from a shelf at the library last week, and I'm completely in love. I've read a few wordless picture books, like Time Flies, which I liked fine, but the kids aged out of it really fast. There's so much more to this one, with incredibly beautiful art that tells all kinds of stories that roll off of the other stories, like pictures of pictures that stack onto themselves. I'm pretty much in incoherence land with this one.
A boy finds a camera beach-combing. He develops th More...
A boy finds a camera beach-combing. He develops th More...
20 comments
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(27 people liked it)
Oct 11, 2010
Chandra
rated it:
I love David Wiesner's work, but in my humble opinion this is his masterpiece. Like Tuesday and Sector 7 this is another wordless book where the pictures tell the entire story. This story unfolds gently and slowly, but is propelled by the amazing, thoughtful, mind-blowingly detailed illustrations. Flotsam is a mystery of sorts - full of discovery, imagination and whimsy. Highly recommended for everyone from 0 to 99!
*2007 Caldecott Medal More...
*2007 Caldecott Medal More...
12 comments
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(9 people liked it)
Jan 04, 2009
Bobby
rated it:
My favorite David Wiesner book to date, and truly an amazing book! Another wordless book which technically may be "written" for children, but certainly can be enjoyed by all. A boy finds a camera on the beach and decides to get its film developed. When he (and the reader) look at the developed photos, a wonderful journey to an incredible underworld begins. With elements of out-of-this-world fantasy and imagination, captured in vivid, non-threatening illustrations, this book is perfect
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(3 people liked it)
Feb 11, 2009
Kathryn
rated it:
Caldecott-Winner, and for good reason. This is a story told in pictures about a boy who finds a camera washed up on shore and develops some pretty amazing pictures, and a bit of a mystery! It's not until the end of the story that all the pieces fit together and it's a fun AH-HA moment. Lots of imagination here. I'm not sure how much I liked Weisner's style, per se, but I have to give this five stars simply for the concept!
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(4 people liked it)
Oct 25, 2008
Mahrya
rated it:
Wiesner, David, Flotsam,, Clarion Books, unnumbered pages. Picture book, fantasy, Caldecott Medal winner, 2007, wordless story.
Description: Without using words, this book tells the story of a boy who finds an old camera that has washed up on the beach. The boy develops the film inside the camera and discovers a fantastical array of underwater scenes, along with pictures nested within pictures of the other children who have previously discovered the camera.
Review: Flotsa More...
Description: Without using words, this book tells the story of a boy who finds an old camera that has washed up on the beach. The boy develops the film inside the camera and discovers a fantastical array of underwater scenes, along with pictures nested within pictures of the other children who have previously discovered the camera.
Review: Flotsa More...
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(1 person liked it)
Apr 11, 2010
Ronyell
rated it:
“Flotsam” is a 2007 Caldecott Award winning book by David Wiesner, author of the popular books, “Tuesday” and “The Three Pigs.” In this story, a young boy discovers a mysterious camera from the sea that eventually shows him another world under the sea. “Flotsam” is surely one classic that cannot be beat.
David Wiesner’s illustrations are once again beautiful as he draws each character in a realistic way, especially of the images of the fishes doing human activities under the sea. More...
David Wiesner’s illustrations are once again beautiful as he draws each character in a realistic way, especially of the images of the fishes doing human activities under the sea. More...
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(3 people liked it)
Apr 06, 2009
Annie
rated it:
We've had Flotsam for about two years and Sam (age 3) was never interested in it until recently. This week he picked it up, said, "Let's read this one," and then wanted to look at the pictures and talk about them over and over again. There are no words in the story, just colorful and detailed illustrations of a boy who finds an old underwater camera with film still in it. He develops the film and is surprised and delighted by the magical undersea pictures.
Oct 02, 2007
Lisa
rated it:
Superb book that even the youngest book listener will be able to read on their own, as it’s told almost entirely in pictures: but so much more fun for adults or older kids to read it with them. A great fantasy story for kids, but there’s also a lot of science thrown in and objects to talk about and explain. And it communicates a lovely message about sharing & giving. Gorgeous pictures. And there’s a great photo of the author as a 5 year old at the seashore on the back inside cover with the autho
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(3 people liked it)
Feb 01, 2012
Julia
rated it:
Flotsam is a wonderful book about a young boy who dsicovers an underwater camera that has washed to shore. When the boy gets the film from the camera developed, he discovers a strange underwater life. The pictures are of robotic fish, octocpuses sitting in a living room, and giant star fish. The boy then comes across a picture that is a picture, of a picture, of a picture, etc. He closely examines the pictures of other children in the pictures with a magnifing glass. The boy decides to take a pi
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Jan 28, 2012
L12_sarah
rated it: 
Flotsam is another fun and imaginative wordless picture book from author David Wiesner. In the story, a young boy is at the beach with his parents. He is inquisitive (as evident by the microscope he brought with him to the beach!) and is in the middle of investigating a small crab along the water's edge when a large wave sends him and the crab crashing onto the shore, along with a mysterious underwater camera covered in seaweed. When the boy develops the film inside, he discovers a series of c
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(1 person liked it)
Jan 28, 2012
Rachel
rated it:
I loved reading David Wiesner's wordless children's book, "Flotsam." This book depicts a day at the beach when a young boy discovers a camera that has been washed ashore. With the camera, he imagines a whole underwater world and sea creatures come to life before our very eyes. Ultimately, the boy throws the camera into the ocean and after a series of adventures, it washes ashore so that another young child can discover it.
The illustrations in this book are amazing because t More...
The illustrations in this book are amazing because t More...
Jan 22, 2012
There is only one way to describe this book, awesome. This book is about a young boy who finds a camera at the beach when it was washed up onto shore. He goes to get the picture developed and looks through all the pictures. The pictures that were taken on the camera were of animals who live in the ocean and of young kids just like the boy who had also found the camera and took a picture with a photo the had developed from it. At the end, he takes a picture with a photo and throws the camera back
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Jan 22, 2012
Jordan
rated it:
Through beautifully painted watercolor illustrations, the reader is given some leeway in how exactly they want to understand this wordless picture book by David Wiesner. When I first opened the book, I noticed a short message on the inside of the book jacket. It said, "Flotsam: Something that floats. If it floats in the ocean, it may wash up on the beach, where someone may find it, and be astonished, and share the discovery with someone else- as David Wiesner shares it with you." I di
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Nov 06, 2011
1. picture book, wordless
2. While looking for flotsam on the beach, a young boy discovers a camera. When he goes to get the pictures developed, he discovers that the camera is much more than just an old camera someone lost, it is full of mystery and carries a rich tradition.
3. The illustrations in this book, specifically the use of line to frame them, are what allows the reader to understand the story without words. The lines, especially when there are multiple pictures p More...
2. While looking for flotsam on the beach, a young boy discovers a camera. When he goes to get the pictures developed, he discovers that the camera is much more than just an old camera someone lost, it is full of mystery and carries a rich tradition.
3. The illustrations in this book, specifically the use of line to frame them, are what allows the reader to understand the story without words. The lines, especially when there are multiple pictures p More...
Oct 28, 2011
Megan
rated it:
Flotsam is a work of contemporary realistic fiction and is intended for preschool or primary readers. Flotsam won a Best Illustrated Children's Book Award. This book has no words in it, it composed of all pictures. It is about camera called a flotsam and the book is filled with "pictures" that the flotsam took. Most of the pictures are of beach scenes.
I rated this book four stars because although there are no words in this book, the illustrations tell a story. The illustrator d More...
I rated this book four stars because although there are no words in this book, the illustrations tell a story. The illustrator d More...
Oct 23, 2011
Ashley
rated it:
Flotsam
1.Wordless
2.After developing the film from a camera he found on the beach, a boy can see everywhere the camera has been, what it has “seen”, and who has found the camera before him!
3.Critique
a.Illustrations
b.The pictures are everything in this book, as there are no words to tell a story. No words are needed, however, because the pictures are so beautiful and descriptive. They can tell the story better than any words could, because More...
1.Wordless
2.After developing the film from a camera he found on the beach, a boy can see everywhere the camera has been, what it has “seen”, and who has found the camera before him!
3.Critique
a.Illustrations
b.The pictures are everything in this book, as there are no words to tell a story. No words are needed, however, because the pictures are so beautiful and descriptive. They can tell the story better than any words could, because More...
Oct 15, 2011
Rodricucuz
rated it:
1. Genre: Wordless
2. Flotsam by David Wiesner is a colorful picture book whom theme is based on the ocean and beach. The little boy stumbles on a camera that washes upon the beach and to his surprise the camera is filled with treasures .
3. critique
A. Flotsam is a wonderful wordless picture book that centers around the treasures of the beach both on the surface and in the ocean . The little boy in the book finds a camera that has washed up on the beach bu More...
Sep 30, 2011
Kelley
rated it:
Critique- Picture Book/Wordless/Caldecott Winner
The story of a young boy who finds an old camera that has washed up on a beach. The young boy has the film inside the camera developed and is amazed to find pictures of undersea animals doing amazing things. He also finds pictures of all the other individuals who have found the camera before him. He takes his picture with the picture of the last person to find the camera and throws the camera back to sea, where it begins its journey to More...
The story of a young boy who finds an old camera that has washed up on a beach. The young boy has the film inside the camera developed and is amazed to find pictures of undersea animals doing amazing things. He also finds pictures of all the other individuals who have found the camera before him. He takes his picture with the picture of the last person to find the camera and throws the camera back to sea, where it begins its journey to More...
Sep 27, 2011
Jade
rated it:
1. { Genre }: Wordless
2. { Summary }: A little boy discovers a camera on the beach of Long Island. His curiosity leads him into a journey of discovery and magical realms.
3a. { Area for comment }: Illustration, Composition
3b. { Critique }:
This title really lends its audience the chance to believe in the impossible. I’m not particularly at the edge of my seat, but I’m always caught asking for more. The composition of the book balances the abundance of l More...
Sep 26, 2011
Davina
rated it:
1. Picture Book-Wordless
2. A young boys explores the pictures from a camera washed up on the beach. After exploring some of the pictures of the deep blue sea filled with sea aliens, puffer fish balloons, and other sea creatures, he comes across the most important picture of all and realizes the purpose of the camera. After seeing the picture of other children holding a photo of the person who found the camera before them, he took a photo of himself with the picture, and threw the camer More...
2. A young boys explores the pictures from a camera washed up on the beach. After exploring some of the pictures of the deep blue sea filled with sea aliens, puffer fish balloons, and other sea creatures, he comes across the most important picture of all and realizes the purpose of the camera. After seeing the picture of other children holding a photo of the person who found the camera before them, he took a photo of himself with the picture, and threw the camer More...
Sep 26, 2011
Ashton
rated it:
Genre: Wordless, Fantasy
Summary: A young boy, playing at the beach, finds a camera washed up on the beach. He inspects the camera, only to find it has film in it. He develops the film which shows fantastical pictures of aliens riding fish, octopuses reading, and a machinery fish. The boy also finds a picture of a picture, etc. of people who found the camera, so he continues the cycle by taking his picture and tossing the camera back in to the ocean.
Critique: A. The small, intricate More...
Summary: A young boy, playing at the beach, finds a camera washed up on the beach. He inspects the camera, only to find it has film in it. He develops the film which shows fantastical pictures of aliens riding fish, octopuses reading, and a machinery fish. The boy also finds a picture of a picture, etc. of people who found the camera, so he continues the cycle by taking his picture and tossing the camera back in to the ocean.
Critique: A. The small, intricate More...
Sep 25, 2011
Casey
rated it: 
1. Genre: Wordless
2. Summary: A little boy and his family are spending the day at the beach. The little boy finds an old camera that has been washed up on shore. The pictures that are found inside the camera are incredibly interesting and tell the story of the camera and where it’s traveled to.
3. Critique:
a.) Considering this picture book is wordless the illustrations are what you have to pay attention to and in this book the illustrations are stunning. The pictures look More...
2. Summary: A little boy and his family are spending the day at the beach. The little boy finds an old camera that has been washed up on shore. The pictures that are found inside the camera are incredibly interesting and tell the story of the camera and where it’s traveled to.
3. Critique:
a.) Considering this picture book is wordless the illustrations are what you have to pay attention to and in this book the illustrations are stunning. The pictures look More...
Sep 25, 2011
Jeannie
rated it:
Flotsam, David Wiesner, (Clarion Book, 2006), 38p. Picture Book
Genre: Wordless picture book
Summary: Set on the ocean, this book is about a boy who finds treasure in flotsam (debris) and expands his view of the world and historic time because of it.
Critique: (a)This author's use of line and color help set pace and unfold the plot in this wordless creation.
(b)The thing that makes this wordless book easy to read is the established pace of the story through hor More...
Genre: Wordless picture book
Summary: Set on the ocean, this book is about a boy who finds treasure in flotsam (debris) and expands his view of the world and historic time because of it.
Critique: (a)This author's use of line and color help set pace and unfold the plot in this wordless creation.
(b)The thing that makes this wordless book easy to read is the established pace of the story through hor More...
Sep 23, 2011
Sara
rated it:
1. Genre: Picture Book/Wordless
2. Summary: Have you ever wondered what goes on at the very bottom of the ocean? Follow a young boy’s adventure one day at the beach, where he gets the chance to not only take a peek at the wonders of underwater fantasy, but also to get a glimpse into the past of beach adventures of others.
3. Critique:
a. This story’s greatest strength lies in the storytelling that occurs through the detailed illustrations.
b. David Wiesner introduces hi More...
2. Summary: Have you ever wondered what goes on at the very bottom of the ocean? Follow a young boy’s adventure one day at the beach, where he gets the chance to not only take a peek at the wonders of underwater fantasy, but also to get a glimpse into the past of beach adventures of others.
3. Critique:
a. This story’s greatest strength lies in the storytelling that occurs through the detailed illustrations.
b. David Wiesner introduces hi More...
Sep 17, 2011
Carolyn
rated it:
wide reading for CI546
grade level: any age
genre: wordless picture book
themes: discovery, connections, exploration, photography
cultures: there are a number of fantastical creatures under the sea as well as a caucasian boy, an asian girl, and a boy who is perhaps inuit? or scandinavian?, an african-american
school use: I would definitely use this book to interest kids in photography. I might use it to talk about the way the world has changed, to tal More...
grade level: any age
genre: wordless picture book
themes: discovery, connections, exploration, photography
cultures: there are a number of fantastical creatures under the sea as well as a caucasian boy, an asian girl, and a boy who is perhaps inuit? or scandinavian?, an african-american
school use: I would definitely use this book to interest kids in photography. I might use it to talk about the way the world has changed, to tal More...
Sep 15, 2011
Katelyn
rated it:
1. Wordless
2. This is a wordless story starring a young boy on a beach. He finds a camera that has washed ashore, and he gets the film developed. The pictures reveal a magical world under the sea, and the last photo is the most important because it keeps a tradition going.
3. A. One area I would like to comment on is the illustration used throughout the book. They are incredible, some of them are extreme close-ups that take a moment to discover, others are wide shots al More...
2. This is a wordless story starring a young boy on a beach. He finds a camera that has washed ashore, and he gets the film developed. The pictures reveal a magical world under the sea, and the last photo is the most important because it keeps a tradition going.
3. A. One area I would like to comment on is the illustration used throughout the book. They are incredible, some of them are extreme close-ups that take a moment to discover, others are wide shots al More...
Sep 10, 2011
Morgan
rated it: 
I was very surprised when I "read" this book and there were no pictures. I had to go back and start from the beginning when I finally figured this out. Regardless of this, I found the book very interesting. The pictures were colorful, and didn't really need words to capture its meaning. I think that this book would be really good for getting children into a creative mindset, particularly for writing, and would be a great story for discussion. "What did you get out of the book"
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Sep 09, 2011
Kristina
rated it:
Genre: Wordless Picture Book
It was an average day at the beach when a young boy accidentally gets swept up in a wave and discovers an object as the water recedes. It turns out to be an old-fashioned camera, and to his surprise, it still has film inside. What will the young boy find in those pictures, if anything at all? The answer will astonish everyone.
a.) Considering this is a wordless picture book, the major strength of it is the illustrations.
b.) The illustrat More...
It was an average day at the beach when a young boy accidentally gets swept up in a wave and discovers an object as the water recedes. It turns out to be an old-fashioned camera, and to his surprise, it still has film inside. What will the young boy find in those pictures, if anything at all? The answer will astonish everyone.
a.) Considering this is a wordless picture book, the major strength of it is the illustrations.
b.) The illustrat More...
Sep 08, 2011
Katlyn
rated it:
1. Genre: Wordless
2. Summary: This is another great wordless book which takes the reader on a beach trip with a young boy. The boy adventure on the beach digging up various treasures and discovering new things.
3. Critique:
a. This book has amazing illustrations. The book would and its message would not be the same without them.
b. The illustrations in this title are colorful, detailed, and so interesting. You could read this book several times over and find something new More...
2. Summary: This is another great wordless book which takes the reader on a beach trip with a young boy. The boy adventure on the beach digging up various treasures and discovering new things.
3. Critique:
a. This book has amazing illustrations. The book would and its message would not be the same without them.
b. The illustrations in this title are colorful, detailed, and so interesting. You could read this book several times over and find something new More...
Sep 07, 2011
Katie
rated it:
This wordless picture book is about a boy who searches the beach for flotsam, something that floats. He finds ordinary things like a crab and some shells but stumbles upon an unexpected underwater camera. His curiosity leads him to develop the film which transports him to a world of underwater imagination and fantasy. The last picture presents a mystery itself because it is a photo of a child holding a photo. Then if you look closely, in that photo is another child holding a photo, and it ke
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