Splash!: A Little Book About Bouncing Back

by Maria van Lieshout

Splash the Seal is having a bad day. He doesn’t feel like playing. He doesn’t feel like doing ANYTHING. Splash feels blue. Will he EVER bounce back?
In this warm reminder that hope is always on the horizon, Maria van Lieshout creates the perfect pick-me-up for anyone struggling to bounce back.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens

48 pages, Hardcover

First published September 30, 2008

About the author

Maria was born and raised in the Netherlands, and studied Visual Communications at George Washington University in DC. Maria's historical graphic novel Song of a Blackbird, about a female artist in the Amsterdam resistance during WWII, was awarded the Michael Printz Award Honor and it was longlisted for the National Book Award.
www.vanlieshoutstudio.com for more information.

Reviews

[Paul · Rating 1 out of 5]

Sheesh! This bleak little book, shelved in the Children section of the library, uses a “Look on the sunny side” message to bring relief from sadness. It just doesn’t seem like it will engage children. Maybe adults would be thawed (or irritated) out of their sadness

[Paula · Rating 2 out of 5]

Is it the antidepressant Cymbalta that has those animated commercials with a depressed blob desultorily bobbing along, dribbling out a few tears, its flabby jiggle evoking the post-baby belly you'll never be able to lose? Oh no, excuse me, that's Zoloft. And, er, my problem.

Well, Splash! A little book about bouncing back is an awful lot like a Zoloft ad in book form. Splash is a little blue seal who is so depressed that the sight of him actually causes the SUN to lose interest in rising. Wracked by guilt, he tries to heave the Sun back into the sky with his head, bouncing it higher and higher until he realizes that he's having fun.

So: if you are bummed out, find someone else who is bummed out and hit them with your head until you crack yourself up. Hm. Is it wrong that that seems kind of reasonable to me? Got to be at least as effective as taking antidepressants until your sex drive dries up and your colon turns to rock. (Don't let me say bad things about antidepressants - I have plenty of friends who have a better life through chemistry and I could not be happier about it.)

But do I recommend it for little kids? Yeah. Huh. Splash! to me looks like the kind of book that therapists might keep in the waiting room - it's cute in a kind of rueful way. For actual kids, I'd recommend Taking a Bath with the Dog and Other Things that Make Me Happy over this one, because that book offers multiple practical options for cheering yourself up.

[Jenny · Rating 1 out of 5]

Wow, just really not like or "get" this book. Now that I read other comments and the synopsis I understand what the author was trying to do, but I didn't like the book. Maybe I've had enough experiences with depression to just not find this book appealing, but was not a fan, despite how much hope it is intended to bring!

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little sad and despairing at first, but it turns around (as the title implies!) and becomes fun and frivolous. I love the cool blue gentle illustrations. There are also many variations in the text size which add emotion and emphasis throughout the book. Another lovely work of art!

[Acton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an interesting book because the sun falls into the water. The blue seal wants the sun to be shining. He is floating on an iceburg and finds the sun. He lifts it back up into the air. He feels good.

[Gianna Marino · Rating 5 out of 5]

Splash is a thoughtful, sensitive little seal having a bad day. Don't we all know this feeling? Follow Maria's simple line drawings with splashes of color to find out how Splash the seal figures out life and how to bounce back from a bad start.
Sweet and lovely. Must read for all.

[Jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book about being blue (and getting over it) will warm and delight kids and adults alike.

[Yuyi]

Yes!

[ReadingWench · Rating 3 out of 5]

A hildren's book about depression or having the blues. It is easy for your child to understand.

AR 1.4

[Charlotte · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is the pre-school picture book equivalent of a Cymbalta commercial.

[Lauren White · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good for grades k-1

[Stacie · Rating 4 out of 5]

How to have a better day for kids. Love the pictures too.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A seal is down in the dumps.

[Tina B · Rating 3 out of 5]

"sea lions, depression and recovery, very simple story, it's an allegory"