Through the Looking Glass Children's Book Reviews
Wave
Wordless Picture Book
For ages 2 to 6
Chronicle Books, 2008 ISBN: 978-0811859240
A little girl has arrived on the beach with her mother. They are all alone except for a watchful flock of gulls. Carefully the little girl makes her way towards the water. At first the waves frighten her and she runs away from them, but then she turns and faces the waves. Bravely the little girl pretends that she is a monster and she confronts the thing that frightens her.
She watches the waves come and go, fascinated by what she sees. Then, at last, she gets up the courage to venture into the water and she paddles and splashes to her hearts content. When a large wave comes up, the little girls gets more than she was expecting, and she, and her bird companions, receives a special gift from the sea.
Readers will be amazed when they look through this book. Without having to use words at all the book captures a special moment in a little girl's life. With bold simple lines, minimal shading, and splashes of blue for the water, the author beautifully portrays the little girl's moods. We can see what she is feeling and celebrate with her when she discovers the simple pleasures that are to found while playing on a beach.
