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Float
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Readers' Favorite Picture Books (2015)A boy.
A boat.
A rainy day.
An adventure.
A boy's small paper boat and his large imagination fill the pages of this wordless picture book, a modern-day classic from the creator of Pardon Me! that includes endpaper instructions for building a boat of your own.
This seemingly simple story from Daniel Miyares is enriched with incredible depth and texture that transcend words.
A boat.
A rainy day.
An adventure.
A boy's small paper boat and his large imagination fill the pages of this wordless picture book, a modern-day classic from the creator of Pardon Me! that includes endpaper instructions for building a boat of your own.
This seemingly simple story from Daniel Miyares is enriched with incredible depth and texture that transcend words.
48 pages, Hardcover
First published June 9, 2015
10 people are currently reading
1939 people want to read
About the author
Daniel Miyares
32 books55 followersDaniel Miyares is a critically acclaimed picture book author and illustrator. Some of his books include Float, Night Out, Pardon Me!, Night Walk to the Sea, written by Deborah Wiles, and Hope at Sea. He also illustrated Surf's Up, written by Newbery Medalist Kwame Alexander. Daniel believes that our stories have the power to connect us all. Daniel's story currently takes place in Lenexa, Kansas, with his wife, their two wonderful children and a dog named Violet who gives them all a run for their money.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 478 reviews
April 14, 2017
To see this and other wordless picture book reviews, please visit www.readrantrockandroll.com
Float by Daniel Miyares is a wordless picture book about a boy and his paper boat. It's a rainy gloomy day and he decides to head out to play in the water with his paper boat. Follow along in the story to see how his day with his paper boat unfolds.
The illustrations are dark and rich throughout most of the book. One thing I love about picture books is how they make you think and then you want to restart the book all over again. This book reminded me of how much I loved rainy days as a kid. We were pleased with the ending.
Our absolute favorite parts in the book were the inside covers that included instructions for making a paper airplane and a paper boat.
4****
Float by Daniel Miyares is a wordless picture book about a boy and his paper boat. It's a rainy gloomy day and he decides to head out to play in the water with his paper boat. Follow along in the story to see how his day with his paper boat unfolds.
The illustrations are dark and rich throughout most of the book. One thing I love about picture books is how they make you think and then you want to restart the book all over again. This book reminded me of how much I loved rainy days as a kid. We were pleased with the ending.
Our absolute favorite parts in the book were the inside covers that included instructions for making a paper airplane and a paper boat.
4****
January 21, 2016
Apparently I read Stephen King's It too many times as a young adult. The first 2/3 of this story mimics what happens to Georgie Denbrough, and the dedication ("For my big brother") just heightens the spook factor. Since I don't think that was the author's intent, I'll put aside the heart pounding feeling I had when the paper boat went down the storm drain and try to focus on this as purely a children's picture book that depicts a rainy day adventure. In that context, it's a beautiful story that takes the reader on a short journey to a brief disappointment only to end in the sunshine.
As either horror story or hopeful tale, I still really liked it.
As either horror story or hopeful tale, I still really liked it.
April 27, 2017
Beautifully illustrated wordless book about a boy and his paper boat.
November 8, 2015
The whole family will read all these Goodreads Children's Illustrated book nominees for 2015 and rate all of them.
This is a beautifully illustrated silent picture book about a boy who sees a boat in a newspaper so makes a paper boat to float (and also sees an airplane, for later, so he can make one and fly it). It is SO SWEET and provides so much information in it, if you look closely. It's subtle. So you have too read closely, and as you know, that sometimes pays off!
Mine is a minority review for my family. As I have previously noted, I like silent books better than they do, generally.
Dave 4 stars
Tara 4 stars
Harry (10) 3 stars
Henry (9) 2.5 stars
Lyra (8) 4.5 stars.
This is a beautifully illustrated silent picture book about a boy who sees a boat in a newspaper so makes a paper boat to float (and also sees an airplane, for later, so he can make one and fly it). It is SO SWEET and provides so much information in it, if you look closely. It's subtle. So you have too read closely, and as you know, that sometimes pays off!
Mine is a minority review for my family. As I have previously noted, I like silent books better than they do, generally.
Dave 4 stars
Tara 4 stars
Harry (10) 3 stars
Henry (9) 2.5 stars
Lyra (8) 4.5 stars.
May 27, 2017
This story has no text, I like this in a picture book as it means the illustrations have to work extra hard. A boy goes out to play with a newspaper boat in the rain, we follow their adventures and home again. Nice simple idea and lovely colours. Good to see a book showing children appreciating imaginative play and enjoying the outdoors.
January 11, 2023
Ya this is definitely the version of how we wanted Georgie's story to happen in IT (Stephen King). Beautiful illustrations!!
July 10, 2015
Beautiful wordless picture book about a boy and his paper boat. I love the allusion to the forthcoming folded paper boat printed in the newspaper and then an airplane later (must read the book to see this detail!). Black and white with sparse color. A new favorite.
May 4, 2019
Part of me wants to tape in a picture of Pennywise on each page...
July 23, 2015
This wordless picture book has a boy creating a boat from newspapers that he then takes outside. The sky is dark with rain clouds and the boy protects the paper boat from the sudden downpour with his rain slicker. Then he floats the boat in a quiet puddle. When he lets it into the fast flowing water in the gutter, it scoots away from him, across the road, and down into the sewer. The boy goes to a bridge and sees the limp newspaper page come out of the drainpipe into the pond. It is all droopy and limp, just like the disappointed boy. He heads home, gets dried off, has some cocoa, and then it is back to the newspapers, this time to make something for the sunny day outside.
Beautifully paced with luminous illustrations, this wordless picture book is filled with simple pleasures. From experiencing the joy of a good rainstorm to having a paper boat that floats so gracefully, the joy is tangible in the early part of the book. Then with the boat racing away from the boy, the pace quickens and the pages turn faster. Readers will know what is going to happen, but hope and hope that it won’t. But it does. The ending of being warm and dry again, with an adult helping and caring for him, makes for a book that celebrates the freedom of playing alone outside but also the importance of having a loving home to return to.
The illustrations are particularly fine. Gray and misty, they embrace the rain and the weather. The boy is a dart of bright yellow on each page, the boat a mix of pastel blues and pinks that sets it apart as well. There is a strong sense of movement on the page from the falling rain to the rushing water. The endpages of the book have folding instructions for both a boat and a paper plane.
A book about playing outside and the joy of nature, this wordless picture book is perfect for rainy days. Just make sure you have plenty of newspaper around. Appropriate for ages 3-5.
Beautifully paced with luminous illustrations, this wordless picture book is filled with simple pleasures. From experiencing the joy of a good rainstorm to having a paper boat that floats so gracefully, the joy is tangible in the early part of the book. Then with the boat racing away from the boy, the pace quickens and the pages turn faster. Readers will know what is going to happen, but hope and hope that it won’t. But it does. The ending of being warm and dry again, with an adult helping and caring for him, makes for a book that celebrates the freedom of playing alone outside but also the importance of having a loving home to return to.
The illustrations are particularly fine. Gray and misty, they embrace the rain and the weather. The boy is a dart of bright yellow on each page, the boat a mix of pastel blues and pinks that sets it apart as well. There is a strong sense of movement on the page from the falling rain to the rushing water. The endpages of the book have folding instructions for both a boat and a paper plane.
A book about playing outside and the joy of nature, this wordless picture book is perfect for rainy days. Just make sure you have plenty of newspaper around. Appropriate for ages 3-5.
November 23, 2015
I remember making boats from newspaper in rainy days when I was a child. I remember the excitement when folding the paper, trying to make it perfect for a perfect performance. I remember the joy of seeing it surfing at great speed. I remember running along with it. I remember feeling disappointment when it got crushed or sunk.
This book brought all this adventures back to me, and it provided a precious moment with my kids. Since the story is wordless, all this adventures can be incorporated to the story. I wish it would have rained yesterday afternoon to sail some paper sailboats! We actually folded boats, but they had to settle to the living room carpet.
When our main character comes back home holding his wrecked boat, a hug, dry clothes and a hot chocolate with marshmallows are waiting for him. And of course, a brand new sheet of newspaper. What could he do now that the sun is shinning?
I remember folding newspaper to make a perfect plane when I was a child...
Age range: up to 8 years old.
Check out more children's book reviews in my Reviews in Chalk Blog!
This book brought all this adventures back to me, and it provided a precious moment with my kids. Since the story is wordless, all this adventures can be incorporated to the story. I wish it would have rained yesterday afternoon to sail some paper sailboats! We actually folded boats, but they had to settle to the living room carpet.
When our main character comes back home holding his wrecked boat, a hug, dry clothes and a hot chocolate with marshmallows are waiting for him. And of course, a brand new sheet of newspaper. What could he do now that the sun is shinning?
I remember folding newspaper to make a perfect plane when I was a child...
Age range: up to 8 years old.
Check out more children's book reviews in my Reviews in Chalk Blog!
November 2, 2015
2016 Caldecott contender? Reminiscent of Ezra Jack Keats's The Snowy Day. Instead of snow, there is rain. Instead of a snowball, there is a paper boat. What will happen to the boat? Can the boy's parents make things better?
Let your children or students read the pictures to you!
Let your children or students read the pictures to you!
January 15, 2016
Who needs words when you have the evocative drawings of Daniel Miyares? Kids will love describing what's happening as a little boy ventures outside on a rainy day to play with his paper boat. Bonus: illustrations at the front and back show how to create your very own paper boat and airplane.
March 18, 2017
Woo-hoo! It's rainy day fun as a boy's folded paper boat goes off on an adventure, including getting sucked into a thankfully Pennywise-free storm drain.
Great illustrations and a terrific ending highlight this wordless book.
Great illustrations and a terrific ending highlight this wordless book.
July 12, 2015
A charming gem of a wordless story. I really love Daniel Miyares' illustration style (have you seen Pardon Me?) and raised is a sweet story of a boy and his father and a paper boat on a rainy day.
June 10, 2015
Beautiful, wordless picture book.
July 22, 2015
There's just so much in this book. So, so much.
October 21, 2020
Despite having no words, this picture book tells a beautiful story of the journey of a boy with a paper aeroplane. The detailed, yet simple illustrations show the progression and movement of the story well, and really do tell a story without words. A story of action, adventure, loss, and sadness, this story really has everything to offer. It would be a great story to share with children to understand their interpretations and maybe talk about the feeling the boy has experienced, and whether any of the children have ever experienced the same or similar feelings.
June 17, 2024
This is SUCH A BEAUTIFUL BOOK. No words, but the illustrations hit you right in the heart. What do we do with our kid’s disappointment over things that seem trivial? Such a good reminder that the little things are the big things
August 6, 2015
A little boy follows his paper boat on a rainy day, having fun watching it travel until it disappears! Finally he finds it, after it's floated down a drain, and discovers it's destroyed by too much water. He and the boat, both arrive home soaking wet. The boy is sad, but dried and cared for. But then, a good thing happens, a new idea comes as he looks at someone reading a newspaper. . . Fun story, delightful drawings with the color emphasis on the boat and his rain suit. My granddaughter couldn't wait to see what was going to happen next!
March 12, 2016
Wordless picture book that shows a lot of emotion. Even though I knew that boat wouldn't hold up in all the rain and water, I still felt bad when the boy first lost it, and then found it completely soaked. Sweet to see the dad take care of him afterwards.
June 11, 2015
A stunning depiction of an ordinary moment on a rainy day that becomes wondrous in the eyes of a young boy.
October 23, 2015
This book has such unique art it doesn't need words. I loved the depictions of water and reflections. I just didn't connect well with the story.
July 27, 2016
Perfect to pair with WHAT DO YOU DO WITH AN IDEA and THE DOT.
September 23, 2019
This is probably one of the best picture books I've read...ever? I mean, all right, let's just begin with the cover. It's clearly echoing the book and movie versions of It by Stephen King, drawing from our adult insight that hey, that little boy in a yellow rain jacket with a paper boat looks familiar. It's raining, clearly, but the rain puddle reflects a house and a tree, upside down--something's clearly going to go awry, especially since the young boy is the only thing that our eyes are drawn to, thanks to the mostly monochrome coloring of this book. And then the puddle looks similar to that of a cloud--reminding us of the title, Float. We're not even on page one yet--this is just the cover.
This book toys with intertextuality so much--younger children might not recognize it (but who knows, I might be wrong on this; apparently a lot of people my age watched It when they were younger), but we as adults certainly do. We hold our breaths as the boat floats away, as a drain appears. We release our breaths when the boy goes home to his brother. It's the happy ending Billy always wanted for him and Georgie.
Even through all of this intertextuality, the artistry itself is simply amazing. It's a wordless picture book, meaning completely conveyed by imagery and symbolism. It's just so good, a perfect book for the horror-fan-turned-parent. Definitely worth a read.
Review cross-listed here!
This book toys with intertextuality so much--younger children might not recognize it (but who knows, I might be wrong on this; apparently a lot of people my age watched It when they were younger), but we as adults certainly do. We hold our breaths as the boat floats away, as a drain appears. We release our breaths when the boy goes home to his brother. It's the happy ending Billy always wanted for him and Georgie.
Even through all of this intertextuality, the artistry itself is simply amazing. It's a wordless picture book, meaning completely conveyed by imagery and symbolism. It's just so good, a perfect book for the horror-fan-turned-parent. Definitely worth a read.
Review cross-listed here!
July 15, 2017
This wordless picture book is a delight! I live how Miyares shows movement of the boy, his paper boat, the rain, and the swiftness of the water current. Stunning use of color, and grayscale shading. I love how the book ends and the message that sometimes things don't turn out the way we think they will, but that's ok. Great book to use as a discussion starter.
April 7, 2018
As soon as mummy opened this book to the first page, I could hear her groan internally. It’s a wordless book. Another one. And she doesn’t like them. I don’t know why she keeps borrowing them then! I mean, it’s right there in the first sentence at the blurb! Just because it’s a highly rated book isn’t going to make words magically appear! At least this time she tried to make up words to describe what’s happening in the pictures. At one point she exclaimed “OH MY” and I made a loud sound mimicking her, you know as support and encouragement to doing a bad creative job giving this book life.
January 21, 2018
adorbs and simple wordless book of a boy with a paper boat
December 18, 2018
The beginning of this book reminded me of the movie It haha!
August 23, 2019
Love the illustrations and the story they tell. Reminds me of my favorite days playing out in the rain as a child (my favorite weather).
November 30, 2021
Wordless picture book.
Paper boat adventure set on a rainy day.
I really loved the colouring style and the play & contrast of colours.
Bonus: includes paper boat and airplane instructions
Paper boat adventure set on a rainy day.
I really loved the colouring style and the play & contrast of colours.
Bonus: includes paper boat and airplane instructions
Displaying 1 - 30 of 478 reviews