Float

Float
Illustrated by Daniel Miyares

My rating: ★★★★★

ISBN: 978-1481415248
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Date of publication: June 9, 2015
Age: 4 - 8 years

Themes: rain, play, disappointment & joy, origami

A little boy takes a boat made of newspaper out for a rainy-day adventure. He dances in the downpour and plays in the puddles, but when he sends his boat floating down a gutter stream, it quickly gets away from him. The little boy eventually finds the soggy, ruined boat and sadly makes his way home. But when the rain lets up, he finds himself on a new adventure altogether.

It's a wordless picture book that is so simple in its telling—and yet, it carries some amazing depth and emotion. The illustrations are monochromatic, with the boy's yellow rain suit being the sole, bright point on every page. He is full of energy and excitement, especially when contrasted with the grey and wet world. Besides the story told, I really liked the detail of the illustrations in themselves; water is not an easy element to illustrate, but I love the texture and realism Miyares conveys.

Honestly, I just have to show you some of my favorite pages. Then you'll begin to understand.

This will be one of my Caldecott votes for sure. Highly recommended.

Find it at your library or on Amazon