Picture Book Analysis Karen Simmons

David Wiesner is a very talentedauthor and illustrator who has been honored with the Caldecott Award three times. Growing up inSuburban New Jersey, David spent many of his summer days at the Jersey Shore. He always loved to draw, as a young boy, and that talentdeveloped as he grew and discoveredhis love for visual storytelling. After graduating high school, he attendedThe Road Island School of Design where he further cultivated his talents.

Flotsam was written in 2006. It is a story about a young scientifically minded boy who is exploring at the beach and examining anything he can get his hands on. As he wanders down to the water’s edge, he is knocked over by a wave. It is at that time that he discovers an old camera. Because of his curious nature, he decides to examine the camera and discovers pictures which include an entire underwater world. He also discovers that children from other parts of the world and places in time have had a similar experience. Flotsam is a great combination of both reality and fantasy as two parallel stories coincide with one another.

I immediately made a personal connection with this story. Growing up, I spent my summers living at the Jersey Shore and spent many of my childhood days on the beach from early in the morning until late in the evening. I can remember digging for sand crabs, laying on my beach towel, examining seashells, digging in the sand, playing with my friends, and swimming in the ocean.

Personal

Medium Choice and Visual Images David Wiesner believes

it’s very important to use high qualitysupplies when of creating anytype of visual. This was a valuablelesson he learned in art school.

His choice of medium is Watercolor. It’s interesting to note that the color palate becomes more rich and vivid when the under water surrealistic world Is revealed. Notice, also, that the colors are more light and airy when taken back to the to the boy on the beach.

David also uses surrealism to give the reader a sense of fantasy and mystery.

More Examples of Surrealism…

…and color

History It’s interesting to see how the journey of the boy’s discovery unfolds. Not only does the camera itself give you that feeling of historical value, the film that is encased in the camera is something we just don’t see anymore.

When the boy finally gets the opportunity to view the photographs, that have been encased inside this mysterious camera, he surprisingly discovers that there are pictures within pictures that take him on a historical journey back in time.

Notice the photographsOf the children under the magnifying glass. Their clothes and the black and white transformation of the film depicts a time of yesteryear.

It’s very interesting how David Wiesner uses the

photographic timeline to create the sense of historical value and age of the camera.

I just absolutely love how this story ends. It gave me that sense of connection between the boy from New Jersey and the young Hawaiian girl. Knowing that the camera’s story would continue

was also very satisfying. I would recommend this as a book to

share with others.

John Klassen is a very talented writer and illustrator. He was born in Canada in 1981 and grew up in Niagra Falls, Ontario. He has worked in the field of animation since 2005, and has received the Caldecott award for his illustrative story This is Not My Hat.

This is Not My Hat is a short storyabout a little fish who sneaks up on an unsuspecting large fish. In a snap, the little fish steals the hat right off of thebig fish’s head and then swims away, allthe while believing that he will not getcaught. Unaware that the big fish has awakened, the little fish swims into a sea of underwater foliage, only to be eaten. The moral of the story…Don’ttake what is not yours.

This is not my hat. I stole it from a big fish. He was asleep when I did it.

Where did he go?

I absolutely love the illustrations in this story as well as the contrast of the dark background against the muted colors. In addition, the graphics are simple so that the reader is able to focus on the moral of the story. The medium used by John Klassen is one that I can remember trying when I attended art school.

Personal Connection

If you look at the simplistic type and the lack of words, you can see that the focus is meant to be on the illustration to tell the story. The humor and subject matter is dark which is why David Klassen purposefully used muted colors, textures, and dark background colors.

Design

This visual is a perfect example. A muted simple illustration against a dark background coupled with the fact that the little fish is about to be eaten by the big fish demonstrates the simple brilliance of this author/illustrator.

It’s not ok to take something that is not yours. That is the lesson in this story. The little fish thinks he is going to get away withstealing the big fish’s hat. However, that is not the case as he will soon find out.

Moral of the Story

In the end…

the big fish

gets his

hat back!

I Hope You Enjoyed This PresentationTo learn more about these authors, click on the books above.

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