Blue Floats Away

by Travis Jonker (Author) Grant Snider (Illustrator)

Blue Floats Away
Reading Level: 2nd − 3rd Grade
A little iceberg strikes out on a big journey in this new picture book 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.
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Hardcover
$17.99

Publishers Weekly

Starred Review

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. (Mar.)

Copyright 2021 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

School Library Journal

K-Gr 2--An iceberg grows up extremely bonded to his parents until a momentous day when he separates dramatically and begins a journey through the oceans and into the sky as the water cycle plays out. His reunion with his parents is very pleasing and surprising, and while it might strain scientific credulity, who doesn't love a happy ending? Charming, child-friendly illustrations in cut paper, colored pencil, and white ink convey the journey of a young iceberg and the wondrous beauty and variety of vistas along the way. VERDICT There are other books about the water cycle out there but the journey of the individual character and his wonder at the voyage brings an empathetic element that will engage young readers.--John Scott, Friends Sch. of Baltimore

Copyright 2021 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Review quotes

**STARRED REVIEW**
"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"
Travis Jonker
Travis Jonker is the author of The Very Last Castle and Blue Floats Away. When he is not writing picture books, he works as an elementary school librarian and a children's book reviewer at the blog 100 Scope Notes. He lives in Michigan.

You can visit him at TravisJonkerBooks.com.

Matthew Cordell is the author and illustrator of many celebrated picture books for children, including Wish, Explorers, and Wolf in the Snow, which was awarded the Caldecott Medal. He lives outside of Chicago with his wife, author Julie Halpern, and their two children.

You can visit him at MatthewCordell.com or follow him on Instagram @Cordell_Matthew.
Classification
Fiction
ISBN-13
9781419744235
Lexile Measure
-
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Harry N. Abrams
Publication date
March 23, 2021
Series
-
BISAC categories
JUV009020 - Juvenile Fiction | Concepts | Colors
JUV029010 - Juvenile Fiction | Nature & the Natural World | Environment
JUV030120 - Juvenile Fiction | People & Places | Polar Regions
Library of Congress categories
Picture books
Adventure and adventurers
Adventure stories
Change
Icebergs

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