This story does not follow a traditional plot line as it does not contain words. Interpretation of the story from the illustrations leads the reader on a journey through the eyes of a boy who is on a beach vacation with his family. The boy is very curious about his environment on the beach and inspects everything he sees with a magnifying glass. From the bags of beach treasures he has collected to his microscope that is being kept in a protective plastic baggie, it is obvious that the boy has a penchant for the scientific aspect of his surroundings. While exploring crabs and other creatures, he is hit with a big wave which washes up a very old waterproof camera. After checking for an owner, he decides to open the camera, get the film developed, and purchase more film for the camera. The one hour developing yields more than he can possibly imagine as he sees images of an underwater world that could not possibly exist. The proof of its existence is in the last photo he sees where a girl is holding a picture in a picture that seems to go on forever. Inspecting the photo the way a scientist would, using all of his tools, he finds what he must do with the camera to make sure it fulfills its continued destiny for even more children like himself to experience. This truly imaginitive story is another great tale from David Wiesner.
The illustrations in this book are amazing and truly make the story as there are no words. Not having words makes the reader inspect every drawing and nuance on the pages. The up-close and framed shots give details the way a written story would. From the front cover to the final illustration, the reader can tell there is more than meets the eye.
Wiesner, D. (2006). Flotsam . New York: Clarion Books.
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