Float

Float

Wordless picture book
One type of book we need many more of is the wordless picture
book. The prereader can gain book handling skills and exercise
imagination creating the story line. The apparent simplicity of the
format, however, can hide the need for excellence. Illustrations
carry the entire burden of the narrative. They had better be damn
good: complex, evocative, bordering on seductive.
Daniel Miyares' Float is a perfect example of what a wordless
picture book should aspire to. Its protagonist, a boy clad in bright
yellow rain gear makes a boat out of newspaper. (The bright yellow
and pink and blue spots on the boat are the only bits of color against
a monochromatic background, helping the very young child focus) Much
to his delight, it begins to rain. Soon the street is flooded with
puddles and streams perfect for sailing his creation. Sadly the boat
falls into a storm drain and comes out a sodden mess. The boy trudges
home sadly. A hug from a sympathetic mom, a shower, and cocoa with
marshmellows restore him. Before you know it he's folding a new boat
and heading outside.
Endpapers show step by step directions for folding a paper boat
and a paper airplane. So the perfect time to introduce this lovely
book would be a grey rainy day when there seems to be nothing to
dooooooo.
On a personal note, we are in the process of getting Clean Sweep
together in time for the weekend. It's the yard sale we make out of
all the stuff UMaine students leave behind at the end of the school
year. Just imagine a yard sale the size of an ice hockey arena. We
have the stuff all set out. Tomorrow we have the pricing and signs
and odds and ends to do. Oh, my!
A great shout out to the awesome crew who make the project so much fun
and our encouraging and kind boss, Lisa.
jules hathaway


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