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lattelibrarian's review against another edition
5.0
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!
johnnymacaroni's review against another edition
5.0
Wow! I want to give this 10 stars! It is my new favorite book of 2015! It is absolutely gorgeous...the artwork is very special. Miyares brilliantly shows different perspectives like the reflection of the neighborhood in the puddle and the boy peering down the street - his boat large in the foreground. There is so much lovely texture - from the picket fence to the pouring rain. The yellow that pops on the mostly gray pages makes me so happy. And under all that brilliant, gorgeous art is a wonderful story of play, imagination, hope and renewal! I also believe multiple "readings" (it is wordless) will reveal new treats and treasures every time.
PS If you can't tell, this is MY favorite to win a Caldecott!
PS If you can't tell, this is MY favorite to win a Caldecott!
kristenremenar's review against another edition
5.0
The art in this wordless book is remarkable.
Love that this little boy (with his black hair and brown skin who looks like "Everyboy") makes a toy boat by folding a piece of newspaper.
Love that when the boat is a soggy mess, the boy comes home and is cared for by his dad (in that cozy way that reminds me of Keat's "The Snowy Day").
Love that when the rain passes, the boy goes out again, this time with a newspaper folded into an airplane.
Love that this little boy (with his black hair and brown skin who looks like "Everyboy") makes a toy boat by folding a piece of newspaper.
Love that when the boat is a soggy mess, the boy comes home and is cared for by his dad (in that cozy way that reminds me of Keat's "The Snowy Day").
Love that when the rain passes, the boy goes out again, this time with a newspaper folded into an airplane.
kelleemoye's review against another edition
5.0
Reviewed at: http://www.unleashingreaders.com/?p=8826
This is one of my favorite picture books I read all year. Miyares’s illustrations don’t need words because they are just so alive with feelings and action. I love that there are directions to fold a boat and an airplane on the endsheets; I love that the story doesn’t end, the book just did; I love that the dad is there for his son when he needs it; and I love the imagination and outdoor fun that the boy has.
This is one of my favorite picture books I read all year. Miyares’s illustrations don’t need words because they are just so alive with feelings and action. I love that there are directions to fold a boat and an airplane on the endsheets; I love that the story doesn’t end, the book just did; I love that the dad is there for his son when he needs it; and I love the imagination and outdoor fun that the boy has.
mamabearian's review against another edition
4.0
A little boy makes a boat out of newspaper, and goes outside on a rainy day to play with it. But when it floats away down a gutter, he returns home heartbroken with the wet piece of newspaper. His dad dries him off, and shows him a fresh newspaper, which sets off a new adventure. I loved the illustrations in this one - the reflections in the water are so detailed!
beths0103's review against another edition
5.0
A beautiful wordless picture book with a perfectly resonant ending.
zoes_human's review against another edition
adventurous
5.0
I guess this picture book reads differently if you aren’t a Stephen King fan 😬😳😱
jennifermreads's review against another edition
5.0
A paper boat leads to a wonderful adventure … even for readers! Instructions on endpapers will help you to fold your own paper boat and/or airplane.
While wordless, this is gorgeously illustrated and wonderful fun. Yes, I grabbed a sheet of paper and folded my own boat. And, yes, I gave it a little float in the sink … it worked! Brought out the kid in me again. :-)
While wordless, this is gorgeously illustrated and wonderful fun. Yes, I grabbed a sheet of paper and folded my own boat. And, yes, I gave it a little float in the sink … it worked! Brought out the kid in me again. :-)