Blue Floats Away
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- $11.99
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- $11.99
Publisher Description
A little iceberg strikes out on a big journey in Blue Float Away, a picture book from writer Travis Jonker and illustrator Grant Snider that explores the wonders of the water cycle.
Little Blue lives at the North Pole with his parents until, one day, he floats away and strikes out on his own. Along the way, Blue encounters new things (sharks) and beautiful things (sailboats). He starts to wonder which way is home when something unexpected starts to happen. Little Blue is getting smaller and smaller until . . . he transforms!
After mixing with the warm ocean water, Blue reappears as a cloud. He encounters new things (airplanes) and beautiful things (birds). He charts a course for home. As it gets colder and colder, Blue gets bigger and bigger until . . . hey, is that a snowflake?
A story about the water cycle, Blue Floats Away explores the power of transformation and growing up.
“Blue is an accessible, sweet character who brings emotional depth to an important science concept. Dazzling illustrations, created with cut paper, colored pencil, and white ink, will hold kids’ rapt attention while they hear, wide-eyed, about Blue’s destiny.” —Kirkus Reviews (Starred Review)
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Little Blue is an iceberg, a lump of white floating in the sea near the North Pole, with pin-dot eyes that give him a perpetually surprised expression. As icebergs do, he breaks off from his parents ("I'll be back soon!") and, in a suspenseful sequence, drifts solo into the vast, white-capped ocean. After a period of viewing little but water, he spies objects in the waves—"New things.// Beautiful things"—which Snider (There Is a Rainbow) renders in simple, colorful triangles: dorsal fins, sailboat sails. Torn paper edges and shades of blue and orange provide striking contrasts. Intent on finding his way home, Blue encounters a new difficulty as the warm sun takes its toll "until he disappeared." But a transformation takes place, and a whole new existence opens up for the little iceberg, offering more adventures, new friends, and a gratifying conclusion. Animating the water cycle is a project that Jonker (The Very Last Castle) takes on with humor, drama, and even momentary twinges of fear. Though an author's note discusses climate change, the story's message also comforts, with a character who doesn't disappear but gracefully changes state. Ages 4–8. Author's agent: Stephen Barbara, Inkwell Management. Illustrator's agent: Judy Hansen, Hansen Literary.
