Flooded

by Mariajo Ilustrajo, Mariajosé Gajate Molina

Flooded is the funny and beautifully illustrated tale of animals who live in a city that is ever so slowly flooding.

The flood comes gradually at first. 

All the animals ignore the obvious and go about their busy lives, disjointed from one another and preoccupied by their own problems.

Eventually, the flood water reaches a height that they can no longer ignore and they have to work together to save their city.

All the animals join together in a line and pull out the plug that is drowning the city.

This is an exceptionally illustrated story that teaches a message not to let problems fester and with a little team work and community spirit, no problem is insurmountable. 

Genres: Picture Books, Animals, Childrens, Fiction, Environment, Activism, Ebooks

40 pages, Hardcover

First published May 3, 2022

About the author

Mariajo Ilustrajo is a pseudonym of a a Spanish illustrator Mariajosé Gajate Molina based in the UK.

Reviews

[Hoda Marmar · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked it, it is a nice story with a good message about working together, raising the question of social equity and solving community problems before they are too big to handle.
But, the illustration is not easy to decipher for a kid, and the text is too minimal in a way that loosened the grip of the storyline and the events. It works best for guided reading with a parent or a teacher, otherwise the kid cannot understand the link between the characters, what each one is doing, how the scene plays out etc.. The book feels like it is written for adults to enjoy as well, which made it less childlike. Moreover, the ending was hurried and not clear. I had to make some stuff up to help my 5 years old niece understand what happened.

[Julie Ditton · Rating 5 out of 5]

With her debut picture book, “Flooded”, Artist Mariajo Illustajo has created a story about teamwork and facing problems. One morning the everyone wakes up to find ”the city was just a bit... WET!” None of the animals seem to care at first. One animal tries to get help solving the situation. But he is ignored at first, along with the problem. It is only when the water gets to be too big of an issue that no one does anything about it. Illustajo’s created pen and acrylic drawings which are highlighted by the floodwater that was added through photoshop. The predominate color awash over the rest of the picture emphasizes the importance of the rising floodwaters despite the animals’ nonchalant attitude. The only other bit of color is the bright yellow tail of the main character. Although he is small and feels lost in the crowd, his bright tail keeps him noticeable to the reader. Illlustajo created this book as part of her master's degree program in Children’s Illustration. She gained Worldwide attention when it brought her the World Illustration Awards for New Talent Overall (2020). This book is great, and I will be watching for more fantastic work from her.

I would like to thank the publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.

[Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a brilliant idea for a story and a wonderfully illustrated book.

Flooded shows a menagerie of animals waking up to see that their community has flood water making travel and usual activities difficult and nearly impossible for the smaller ones.

At first they adjust by wearing wellies and splashing in puddles until the water rises beyond ankle deep. Eventually, it is only the giraffes that can keep their heads above water.

I loved the simplicity of the story; the brevity of the words and slogans used. The drawings and diversity of the animal kingdom will keep younger minds guessing and pointing out different characters on each reading.

Of course there is a more profound parable being played out in this clever book. The slowness to respond and the solution being within reach if everyone works together.

But as in this story if we leave it too late, the “clean up” will take longer and the consequences may be with us for far longer than necessary.

A terrific debut; a book to treasure and hold close to your heart.

[Aude · Rating 4 out of 5]

Un beau matin, les habitants se lèvent pour découvrir leur ville remplie d’eau. Au début, ils trouvent cela divertissant. Ils en profitent pour sortir leur bottes de pluie et s’amuser un brin. Mais rapidement, la situation dégénère. L’eau ne cesse de monter et leur ville est complètement inondée. Ils doivent trouver une solution et vite !!

J’ai bien aimé lire ce livre avec ma fille.
C’est court, intelligent et ça se lit super bien. La morale de l’histoire est importante et bien amené.

Et ce qui est vraiment l’fun avec ce livre, c’est que tu peux adapter la lecture selon l’âge de l’enfant. Comme ma fille est encore petite, on l’a lu d’une façon légère et amusante. On a abordé l’importance du travail d’équipe et on a rit des idées ingénieuses des animaux pour garder la tête hors de l’eau. Mais une fois qu’elle sera plus vieille, je pourrai facilement discuter avec elle de problèmes climatiques mais aussi, des inégalités sociales. Qui, je tiens à le préciser, sont bien représentées au fil des pages.

Une histoire amusante derrière laquelle se cache une belle morale.

Coup de coeur pour les illustrations. ❤️

À lire avec les enfants. ✨

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good book. I wish the fonts err a little different though. Maybe bolder. That’s my only real critique of this one

[Gita · Rating 3 out of 5]

عنوان فارسی: سیلاب
مترجم: نعیم عبدالکریمی
انتشارات کتاب پارک

سیلاب داستان دهکده‌ای است که اهالی آن حیواناتِ کوچک تا بزرگ هستند. یک روز که از خواب بیدار می‌شوند می‌بینند که شهر را آب گرفته. کسی توجه نمی‌کند تا جایی که آب بالا می‌آید و حیوانات بزرگی هم که آن را مسئله‌ای نمی‌دانستند دچار مشکل می‌شوند.

بنظرم کتاب چاپ شده تا معروف شود و "معنای سیاسی دارد" و "فلسفی است" و "باید برای آن کارگاه بگذاریم". نمی‌دانم اینطور کتاب‌ها چه تاثیری روی کودکان و در نهایت آینده‌ی جمعیِ بزرگسالانه‌ی آنها دارند بنابراین از این لحاظ نظری نمی‌دهم. ولی یک سوال و یک نظر:
اول اینکه از این موضوع که یک نفر آمد و ایده‌ی برتر و حل‌کننده را داد خوشم نیامد. درواقع همه دنباله‌روُی یک نفر شدند.
دو اینکه چرا نفهمیدیم دقیقا مشکل چه بود؟! اگر نویسنده میخواهد با نمادها کتابی بنویسد آیا نباید منطق نسبی‌ای را در خود آن رعایت کند؟

[nerdy.bookdragon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really cute and adorable book, I think mainly for kids, obviously, but I would recommend it to everyone for a read.

[Etienne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful book! The art is very good even if the writing might be hard to read for younger reader in some pages. The story have many levels of depth, from the cozy funny one to a more serious climate change one which you can or not go into depending on the reader age. The ending had a nice message of collaboration and hope at the end to keep it in a nice balance tone. Well done, I liked it!

[Martina P · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kako je lako na kreativan način prikazati da nas se sve tiče problem bili veliki ili mali te kako trebamo raditi zajedno za svačije dobro, naravno ako znaš kako :)
Zaista se lijepo nadopunjuju riječi i slika.

[Ophilia Adler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read it for work and its so cute and has a great message. Its not great for reading out louad in class but it works perfect to read to a few children.

The book is very heavy on illustrations so give the children time to really look at them and talk about the different issues the animals are facing.

[Demi Stein · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originele recensie: https://meerboekenblog.nl/natte-stad/

--

SAMENVATTING:
De grote stad staat ineens vol met water. Aan het begin lijkt dit leuk en vindt niemand het erg. Dan kunnen die kaplaarzen die stof staan te happen, ook weer eens gedragen worden.

Wanneer de stad echter steeds natter en natter wordt, is het toch niet meer zo grappig. Het is zelfs een groot probleem geworden! Tijd voor de dieren om in actie te komen en dit probleem samen op te lossen.

--

SAMENWERKEN AAN EEN OPLOSSING
Natte stad is het, letterlijk spetterend, debuut van Mariajo Ilustrajo. Ze heeft zelf voor zowel de teksten als de illustraties gezorgd, die perfect op elkaar zijn afgestemd.

Om het gevoel van water te versterken heeft het boek voornamelijk blauw gekleurde illustraties. Deze worden soms onderbroken met andere kleuren om hetgeen extra goed te kunnen belichten, maar het verhaal draait om een natte stad en dit is ook duidelijk zichtbaar.

Ilustrajo laat heel duidelijk zien dat de dieren in eerste instantie veel pret hebben met het laagje water. De dieren kleden zich naar de weersomstandigheden en de allerkleinsten gaan met zelfgemaakte bootjes op stap. Het probleem wordt echter alsmaar groter wanneer het water blijft stijgen, waardoor ze zich toch gaan afvragen waar al dit water vandaan komt. De angst die groeit weet ze dan ook erg goed vast te leggen.

Natte stad is een kinderboek dat goed past bij thema’s zoals klimaatverandering. Het gaat immers over een stad die volloopt met water, terwijl er dieren in gevaar raken. Het ligt er echter niet dik bovenop of verteld wat de mens moet doen, het is daarom een goed boek om voor te lezen aan de allerjongsten, wanneer je het over dit thema wilt hebben.

Naast dat het eigenlijk best spannend is dat een volledige stad onder water komt te staan, weet Ilustrajo er ook een stukje humor aan toe te voegen. Dit door zowel tekst als illustraties. Zo maken de dieren bijvoorbeeld onderling grappen, wanneer de één al veel sneller problemen ervaart met het water dan de ander. Je hebt namelijk dieren in allerlei vormen en maten.

Natte stad is het debuut van Ilustrajo, een Spaanse illustrator. Met dit boek laat ze zien welke kracht er kan ontstaan wanneer iedereen met elkaar samenwerkt aan een oplossing en op een subtiele manier word je herinnert aan dat we allemaal lief moeten zijn voor de mensen/ dieren en natuur om ons heen.

Natte stad is een prachtig boek om voor te lezen. De tekst is goed te volgen en er valt veel te beleven op de prachtige illustraties. Dit boek smaakt zeker naar meer werk van Ilustrajo.

[Ashley Love Sellers · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s an odd thing; one day the animals wake up to find their city just a little bit…wet. It’s a curiosity, a conversation starter, a change in the routine. No one thinks too much of it at first, but the water continues to rise causing bigger and bigger problems for the smaller animals. The large animals continue to ignore the water until it’s finally too high to ignore anymore. Finally, the animals start to listen to the voice of reason and work together to figure out how to rid their city of all the water that’s flooded their lives.

I loved this book. I loved the black and white illustrations with just a touch of yellow and a whole lot of blue. I loved the message that feels so relevant today for so many problems in our world. I loved the humor and the ambiguity, but most of all I loved how I got to use this book as an illustration in a conversation with my husband (bless his heart).

Flooded is a beautiful book about coming together as a community to tackle the problems around us. Parents and caregivers can utilize the ambiguity of the book to help children understand bigger issues in the world or smaller problems in their own lives. Flooded is set for publication October 2. Make sure you check it out, and let me know what you think!

[Cath Y. (riso.allegro) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adored this little book!! The use of lines and colours is so beautiful, and each animal so full of character. I love the allegorical capacity of the story. I personally read it as a call to immediate collective climate action, especially given the floods ravaging countries all around the globe this year, but of course the story can be interpreted in so many more way. I love the rich details and nuances condensed into such a short narrative. There’s toxic positivity, collective inertia, the business-as-usual ostrich mentality, turning a deaf ear to someone who has identified the problem and tried to offer a solution from the very beginning, and privileged individuals (represented by giraffes) downplaying the gravity of the situation. It’s nice how ending focuses on solidarity rather than blame - I think it’s sends a good message to children. Lovely art and storytelling. Definitely want to read more by this author.

[Natalie all_books_great_and_small · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.

Flooded is a thought-provoking children's picture book about working together and teamwork.
The animals in the story awaken to find flood water everywhere. At first, they ignore it, all but one animal that is - who tries to get help from the other animals to resolve the problem before it gets worse. This is a great book to use as a discussion tool with a child or a group of children to talk about problem solving, teamwork, resolutions, and more. The illustrations use a clever use of colour, which emphasises the dangers of rising flood water in a child friendly way.

[Chiara Rovere · Rating 5 out of 5]

Magari i big politicians potrebbero dare un’occhiata a questo libro.

[Jared B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Located though the 2023 English 4-11 Picture Book Award list, "Flooded" is a visually rich picture book from the UK that tells the story of a city of animals slowly overwhelmed by rising water as most pretend nothing is wrong. Through expressive illustrations and a steadily growing flood, Mariajo Ilustrajo delivers an allegorical tale about denial, community, and the power of speaking up. Reading the physical version added to the experience, as the visual progression of the flood is subtle but significant, something that would be lost in audio or even many digital formats. The pencil and watercolor illustrations enhance the emotional arc and offer students opportunities to infer meaning through visual cues, supporting critical thinking and visual literacy. This book would be especially effective for grades 1-3 and could be used to support lessons on cause and effect, theme, and character motivation. It also fits beautifully within social-emotional learning goals, as it encourages students to reflect on responsibility and collective action. Course vocabulary like "evaluative criteria," "narrative coherence," and "aesthetic appeal" apply here, as the book balances accessible storytelling with deeper meaning and artistic execution.

[Patrícia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Cute little children's book. I loved the illustrations and the concept is cute. I feel like the pacing was a bit weird, I know children's books are very fast paced but this one was taking its time in the beggining in a very interesting and cute way, but then all of the sudden just ends. And the ending is not super clear, honestly I don't know how I would explain it to a child. It just feels like it accidentally missed a couple of pages.

[Schahin · Rating 3 out of 5]

داستان طنز جالبی داشت با تصویرگری خلاقانه
در مورد اینکه چطور وقتی یک مسأله کوچک مورد بی توجهی قرار بگیره تبدیل به یک مشکل بزرگ میشه.
هرکدام از حیوانات تو قصه که میشه گفت نماد طبقه مختلف با موقعیت های مختلف بودند با مسأله به روش خودشون برخورد میکردن. تاجایی که ضرری براشون نداشت پس اهمیتی هم نداشت.
تا اینجا داستان عمیق پیش رفت تا پند آموزشی "باهم بودن" وارد ماجرا شد.

[Sabine Ibing · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eines Morgens kommt das Wasser in die Stadt. Der Boden ist überall ein bisschen nass. Das stört zunächst niemand. Die Tiere finden es aufregend, Schule war noch nie so spritzig. Doch das Wasser steigt und steigt. Die kleinen Tiere finden das nun gar nicht mehr witzig. Doch als den Giraffen das Wasser bis zum Hals steht, wird es plötzlich zum Problem von allen.

«Das Wasser muss weg!»

Humorvoll beschäftigt sich das Buch den Folgen des Klimawandels. Was passiert, wenn die Welt sich ändert? Zuerst erwischt es die Kleinen, die sich nicht wehren können. Die Großen interessiert es nicht so. Ein bisschen Wasser – was soll das schon machen? Doch dann geht es plötzlich alle an! Immer werden die Agierenden erst wach, wenn es eigentlich zu spät ist. Ein Problem, das nun schnell gelöst werden muss. Aber wie? Der Einzige, der weiß, was zu tun ist, ist ein kleines Äffchen – das die ganze Zeit schon warnt. Nur wenn alle gleichzeitig anpacken, können wir die Problemstellung lösen. Globale Themen gehen alle an! Das alles ist als Fabel angelegt – hier passiert etwas, das einer Lösung bedarf. Übertragend geht es um unser Klima, also schlicht eine Geschichte ohne den pädagogischen Zeigefinger. Die Tiere machen es vor: Alle packen an!

«In der Stadt ging alles seinen gewohnten Gang. Treppauf, treppab. Schließlich war da nur ein bisschen Wasser.»

Weiß-türkisfarbener Hintergrund – schwarz-weiße Tuschzeichnungen für die Tiere. Ein langsam steigendes Problem, es wird immer türkiser ... Am Ende der Mitte gibt es eine Ausklappseite: Als die Welt unter Wasser steht, packen alle mit an. Mariajo Ilustrajo arbeitet mit nur zwei Farben – und genau das macht das Buch so spannend. Hier lenkt nichts ab. Sehr lustig sind die Dialoge – insbesondere, wenn die Grafiken ins Detail zoomen, unten die mit einem Problem, obern die, dies (noch) amüsiert. Eine witzige Fabel, eine Parabel mit Nachhall, Empfehlung. Der Beltz Verlag gibt eine Altersempfehlung ab 4 Jahren – passt.

Mariajo Ilustrajo ist eine spanische Illustratorin, die in England lebt und arbeitet, wo sie an der renommierten Anglia Ruskin University ihren Master in Kinderbuch-Illustration machte. »Nur ein bisschen Wasser« ist ihr Debut, das in England bereits mehrfach ausgezeichnet wurde, u.a. mit dem Preis der Association of Illustrators.

[Feli_H · Rating 2 out of 5]

En una ciudad que de un día para otro empieza a llenarse de agua hasta interferir con el diario vivir, basta con una simple acción llevada por muchos para hacer frente a tal difícil situación. Una acción que de tan simple no ayudó a dejar claro el cómo ni por qué de lo que ocurrió.

El protagonista que acompañamos en esta historia es una nutria (creo, se parece a una al menos) que de manera casi psíquica logra darse cuenta de lo que hay que hacer para resolver esta catástrofe medioambiental que está sucediendo. A medida que observamos como la inundación afecta la vida de las diversas personas que viven en la ciudad, con ilustraciones de acuarela en las que destacan el uso del color azul en contraste con los blancos y grises, acompañaremos a este personaje tratando de hacerse oír en una multitud que no está dispuesta a hacerle el menor caso. Y por supuesto que no lo escuchan, si en ningún momento muestra real manejo de lo que está sucediendo, más que para lamentarse por la posibilidad de que se inunden las pinturas del museo, o por iniciar algo de conversación, mas siendo ignorado por algo más interesante captado por la gente. Demostrando quizás la poca comunicación que se está teniendo actualmente como sociedad?, sí, pero el hecho de que la narradora lo apunte como el héroe cuando poco o nada se nos demuestra de ello, no me logró encajar mucho.

En general, un libro de imágenes por capítulos que logra captar la atención debido a su premisa cercana a la realidad y su mensaje importante a entregar, pero que su forma de trabajarlo durante toda la extensión de la historia dejó mucho que desear.

Mis agradecimientos a Edelweiss+ y a la editorial Frances Lincoln Children's Books, por darme la oportunidad de acceder al DRC de este libro.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 Stars

In this story water is slowly flooding the city. At first all the animals go on with their lives, however as the water level rises it becomes a problem for the smaller creatures. Most of the larger animals don't really pay attention to the problem as it isn't really affecting them. Soon enough the city becomes so flooded that it can't be ignored, so all the animals must work together to pull the plug and drain the city.

I just want to say how absolutely beautiful this book is! The illustrations are just impeccable, it has quite a sketchy art style with everything being in greyscale apart from the almost watercolour-esque blue of the water and the bold yellow of our main character's tail. This bright yellow can be used to track our protagonist throughout the pages as some scenes can get quite chaotic with lots of animals everywhere. I like how the book highlights that the same problem can have a different effect on different people/animals, and how it is important to keep an eye out for each other and work together to solve a problem before it grows out of hand.

I cannot wait to get myself a hard copy so I can read it out to my preschool class, with conversations to follow on our topics of caring for others, diversity, problem solving, as well as climate change and caring for our environment. This book is such a great starting off point for many different conversation topics for children.

This book would be best suited for an adult to read out loud to children 3+.
Children's Fiction, Science, Outdoors & Nature, Picture Book
40 pages

I received this as an eBook through NetGalley in return for an honest review.

[Jennie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Flooded, (2022) is an amazing and pointed allegory written and illustrated by Mariajo Ilustrjo. Visualised through the perspective of a marmoset, and told from an outside observer stance, the city gradually floods. Ignoring the prompting of the marmoset seeking help, the animal inhabitants adjust to the worsening predicament. First with gumboots, then oxygen tanks and helmets as the waters rise and treasures are lost or destroyed. The giraffes, as the tallest animals, can’t see what the problem is until they too are immersed. As the numbers of affected animals increases they finally start to band together to complain. It is the marmoset, who has been waiting for this moment, that finally gets the animals to cooperate and work together to solve the problem – evocatively portrayed via a fold out page to present all the animals across a triple page spread. The underlying message is a wake call to humanity – that we can’t ignore the suffering of others until it affects us – like the ostrich with his head in the sand – and the power of working together to find and enact solutions. The intriguing illustrations, in muted greys and watery blues, effectively extend the text to convey the intended message. Some examples of the art work can be viewed on Ilustrio’s website. Older readers will be able to make many connections to current global issues in this allegorical tale. The Western world’s (as the superior giraffes) response to Covid, or dealing with climate change – the point is that it needs to be a united and cohesive response. A sophisticated book that

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh what an incredible book Flooded is. Mariajo Ilustrajo has not only used her unique, beautiful illustrative skills in this book but she also penned this one too.

Flooded reminds me of a Disney film in that it is a book that can be read on many different levels. You can read it at a light-hearted level where animals are doing funny things due to a flood. Some may read the message that only when a community comes together can we tackle big problems such as a flood. Or you could read it and immediately want to thrust it into the hands of every person and especially every politician around the world to wake up and realise climate change is not going away. A message that we can't continue to do nothing even when we can see what is right in front of us. People and leaders of the world must unite to be able to save our planet. Can you tell this book really got to me?!

It's exceptional. The limited palette and how the blue begins to engulf the pages is so powerful. It's almost claustrophobic and all encompassing as you read. You want to shout at the animals to take notice - my daughter was shouting at the book for someone to do something.

I'd recommend this book for 4 years plus but think it's one of those picture books that could be used throughout primary to provoke some very deep thinking and conversations.

An absolute triumph and I truly hope to see more from Mariajo as both author and illustrator.

Thanks to Quarto for kindly sending this one for review.

[Nóri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Flooded is a graphic novel enjoyable for bigger kids and even adults. The drawings are breathtaking (pun intended) and witty as well. The story unfolds in a big city inhabited by all sorts of animals doing what humans usually do amidst the hustle and bustle of a posh city. Their busy and fun life is interrupted by the seeping in of some water and some more and some more until they need to act immediately. The flood teaches them something important about their society.
Flooded draws attention to our environmental problems, not just flooding; the amount of trash littering the streets is truly disgusting. No, it's not a nice picture even if the illustrator is pretty talented.
Flooded has a social message. What is alright for you can be a problem for others. It's all a matter of size. The giraffes enjoy cooling off in a "lake" all day.
I had a good laugh at our social trends of always wanting something new and curious. The animals "invent" wet art as the flood reaches the museums.
I love that some crucial aspects of the story are told only through the pictures.
Let's not forget it's a tale, the animals come up with some funny and unbelievable solutions, like reading newspapers comfortably underwater or using jars as headwear, they surely keep the water out and block oxygen at the same time.
Thank you NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group – Frances Lincoln Children's Books for sending this book for review consideration. I read a DRC. All opinions are my own.

[Stephen Dilley · Rating 5 out of 5]

'Flooded' is a delightful children's picture book written and illustrated by Mariajo Ilustrajo. As the story begins, the animals awaken to discover that their city is flooded. Mostly they are unfazed or amused by the problems this causes, but as the waters rise they start to panic - all apart from one small creature who has known what needed to be done from the start but nobody has been listening.

This story contains some positive and memorable messages for young children about teamwork, collaboration, listening to everyone and how to deal with problems. Children and adults alike will enjoy Ilustrajo's charming illustrations - all the animals are drawn in black and white apart from the small creature whose yellow tail appears on every page - and adults will especially appreciate the humour and social commentary Ilustrajo includes, such as the giraffes who remark to each other "What is there to complain about? It's just a bit of water" while smaller creatures are struggling, or the kangaroos in the art gallery who observe that "Wet are is the new thing". The art gallery pages also allow for some other excellent visual gags.

This is a wonderful book which, and I'm sure I will be buying lots of copies as children's birthday and Christmas presents over the coming years! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Theediscerning · Rating 3 out of 5]

When a small monkey wakes up in a city that's slightly underwater, he realises the problem and the solution. But nobody else seems to be that concerned – after all, they're mostly bigger and taller than him and can survive heads above the rising waters much more easily. Still, if the answer relied on cooperation and everyone muscling in, that might be a good thing, right? But is there a solution, and if so, what?

I think the thing here is that I had to kind of give the game away to show the book's virtues, for visually they're not exactly evident – the gloomy, grey-and-dark blue world of the submerged critters not the most visually appealing (even if the monkey has a yellowish tail, flitting in and out of view). That said, you can spin the story many ways – it sort of has to be thought of in relation to climate change, but it can relate to any instance where the underdog needs to be listened to, and differences need to be ignored for the utilitarian good. It's about not losing hope, and not losing sight of those littl'uns that may well need our help. So a flood of positive messages, then – just not perhaps a way to convey them all that matches their merits. Three and a half stars.

[Cj Reads Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Flooded by Mariajo Ilustrajo was a childrens book the kids and I read via the tv screen.

All three kids loved the book and they agreed that they felt sorry for the animals having to deal with the flood even though the animals weren’t bothered by it. After seeing the animals working together the kids were relieved that the animals no longer had to adapt to water conditions.

The illustrations in the book, particularly in the colour, were simple yet effective. Blues and greys gave it a sad feel about the book but the tiniest pop of yellow from the monkey's tail gave the story a bit of hope.

I love how it demonstrates how if we leave an issue continuing it builds up and eventually we will have to sort out a bigger mess than if we fixed the problem when it first occurred.

Overall a fantastic book, the kids keep asking to reread - looks like a book I will eventually buy when I can.

Thank you Netgalley and Quarto Publishing Group- Frances Lincoln Childrens Books for the digital copy of Flooded for reviewing purposes.

[Dave Schaafsma · Rating 4 out of 5]

This first picture book by Mariajo Ilustrajo is about an actual and a metaphorical flood. Yes, there is at first some water, no big deal, you wear boots! and then there is too much water and we need to take it seriously. Accumulating problems. California! And so on. Climate change? Sure. But maybe it's about any crisis? Indeed. The book makes a typical picture book point--that we have to work together to solve our problems--in the context of actual world crises. Most kid books seem to ignore real global issues, but my faves are often ones on refugees, climate change, war. Why not find ways to be real with kids?

The art work: I like the colors and personally like the sketchy style, but am curious about whether kids might find it a little confusing. I thought the type could have been darker. It's all caps, which is good, but still feels light to me. But I like it a lot; just an age level question.

But kudos to Ilustrajo on making art for kids speaking to the real and troubled world!

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about a little bit of water. It's a problem, but one they're able to ignore at first, and some actually enjoy because it's a change. At first the animals don't mind but it keeps coming. It affects the smallest animals first, and shows them underwater with fishbowls over their heads and sometimes with oxygen tanks. Some of the bigger animals are oblivious to the creatures under the water but a few notice and try to help, but eventually the problem affects everyone. One animal had known the problem from the beginning but no one listened, and in the end they learn that they need to work together.

Great message about working together, and about being aware of others, and problems.

Illustrations are detailed. They almost appear to be pencil sketches with almost everything in shaded on the scale of black to white. The one monkey who knows what the problem is from the beginning has a yellow tail and the waters are blue. Those are the only two "colors".

My kids really liked this book.

[Melissa H · Rating 5 out of 5]

Flooded is a perfect picture book for schools. The story is relatively simple - a town is being flooded and the animals must work together to try and fix it - and the illustrations are captivating; there is so much to notice on each page.
What makes it exceptional is that it could be used in all groups across a primary school to great effect. Younger years will enjoy the story and the pictures, discussing how the animals need to work together and linking it to the theme of collaboration and teamwork, perhaps. Working with the older year groups, I would use it to go deeper, using it as a way into climate change discussions, ignoring the warnings of people, how it effects the 'smaller' animals first, how others only begin to take notice when it impacts them, etc.
A fantastic read and a essential book for primary school classrooms and libraries.
Thank you, Quarto Books and NetGalley for allowing me an advance read in exchange for an honest review.