Float

Lovely and life-affirming. 

In the opening scene of Miyares's (Pardon Me!) wordless story, two pairs of hands--one big, one small--fold newspaper into origami boats. In the spreads that follow, a boy in a yellow slicker ventures outside and waits for a downpour to end before launching his boat, which is instantly carried away by the swiftly flowing water. It slips down a storm drain, and when the boy reaches it at last, the once-proud craft is a sodden mess. At home, his father welcomes him with a hug, then holds a blow-dryer up to the boy's wet hair. In an unexpectedly lovely moment, the boy grins widely as his hair blows sideways; readers sense his pleasure and relief. The warmth of his father's care renews the boy, and he sets off for another adventure. Skilled draftsmanship and smart pacing distinguish Miyares's visual storytelling. Seen against streets and houses of slate gray, the boy's yellow slicker is the only bright color, underlining the sense that he's in a world of his own. It's a moment of childhood captured in multiple dimensions. Ages 4-8. Agent: Studio Goodwin Sturges. (June)

PreS-Gr 3--A boy clad in a bright yellow raincoat and hat graces the cover, recalling Ezra Jack Keats's A Letter to Amy (Viking, 1968). This homage to Peter's dance with an invitation has its own tale to tell, but those in the know will enjoy noticing the connections: the attire, fence, special effects with water, and paper journeys. Miyares's wordless adventure, employing panels of varying sizes, opens with a father and son forming an origami boat from a newspaper. The setting is monochromatic except for the child's clothing and significant spots of pink and blue on the newsprint. Soon after the child rushes outdoors for the launch, rain forces him to shield the boat inside his slicker. Long, gray digital strokes create an impressionistic shower around the blurry boy; clarity resumes as the storm recedes. The artist plays with aerial views and simultaneous succession, e.g., six sun-colored, puddle-jumping protagonists in one scene, until the current sweeps the boat through several pages to a sewer-fed stream. The soppy page is returned to Dad, who has hugs, cocoa, and a new idea for the next sheet of paper. This time when the door opens, sunshine floods the room and a plane is about to lift off. This warm family story models rainy-day fun and just the right amount of parental intervention. Endpapers provide directions for both forms of transportation. VERDICT The thoughtful use of color, perspective, and texture makes following this young "maker's" projects a visual pleasure.--Wendy Lukehart, District of Columbia Public Library