Weisner, D. (2006). Flotsam. New York, NY: Clarion Books.
Caldecott Award, 2007. For Ages: 4 to 8.
Personal Response: The pictures in this book were great! As an adult, I can appreciate a story told in pictures only. And the story was interesting to me. However, I think this book would not be as enjoyable to a young child. The reader has to figure out what the author is trying to convey through complex illustrations. I believe this would be a bit cumbersome for a 4 or 5 year old to do. But I enjoyed the hint of nostalgia in the story. When the boy finds the old camera on the beach, it reminds me of my childhood. I love when he brings the film into the lab to have the pictures developed. In this age of technology, I almost forgot about film!
Literary Response: The setting in this story has a familiar feel. I believe that the author wants the reader to have a feeling of nostalgia when looking at the pictures. Even if a reader has never been to a beach, most readers have been with a parent or parents/grandparents in some setting as a child.  And we, as children would never be “into” the same things that our parents enjoyed. Instead, something else would spark our curiosities. So, readers can relate to the main character by connecting with through setting. This book is similar to Wonderstruck, in that it tells an in depth story through the use of illustrations. In both stories, the pictures are detailed and the author/illustrator is able to emphasize points with exaggerated illustrations.