Blue Floats Away

by Travis Jonker, Grant Snider (Illustrator)

Overview

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)

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781419744235
Publisher:	Abrams Books for Young Readers
Publication date:	03/23/2021
Pages:	40
Product dimensions:	8.70(w) x 11.10(h) x 0.60(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Travis Jonker is an elementary school librarian and the creator of 100 Scope Notes, a kidlit blog hosted by School Library Journal. He was a member of the 2014 Caldecott committee. Jonker lives with his wife and two children in Zeeland, Michigan.
 
Grant Snider is an orthodontist by day and an artist by night. He is the author-illustrator of graphic novels and picture books including What Color Is Night? His comics have been featured in many major publications, including the New York Times and The New Yorker, as well as The Best American Comics 2013 anthology. He lives in Wichita, Kansas, with his wife and four children.

Editorial Reviews

**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

**STARRED REVIEW**
"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."

— Publishers Weekly

"Jonker keeps his text and its tale simple, accommodating the youngest audiences and providing a clear framework for the educational component. Charming and effective." 

— Booklist

"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." 

— School Library Journal

"A title that sneakily teaches as it enchants."

— Shelf Awareness

From the Publisher

★ 2020-12-25
The water cycle gets the anthropomorphic treatment.

When Little Blue breaks off from his parents—a single iceberg with two heads—he’s swept away by the surrounding waves. Unsure if he’ll ever return, Blue drifts farther and farther away, witnessing snow and eventually finding companionship: fish, the moon, and boats, which help him learn about winds and currents. But Blue discovers he’s changing. As the sky warms, he grows ever smaller until he melts into the surrounding water; unable to help him, his friends leave. Then Blue evaporates, condenses, and becomes a cloud. In the sky, he meets new friends who help orient him toward home; on the way, Blue changes again, bringing about a happy reunion. This tale is told in easily comprehensible terms for the youngest readers and listeners. 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. Illustrations aptly feature shades of vivid blues, but eye-popping pinks, reds, oranges, yellows, and purples also emblazon these pages. Blue and his parents are expressive even though their faces are depicted merely with light-blue dots. An author’s note explains the water cycle and climate change, and it offers tips to protect the planet. (This book was reviewed digitally with 11-by-17-inch double-page spreads viewed at 48.7% of actual size.)

A splendid springboard to both STEM and art activities. (Picture book. 3-6)

Kirkus Reviews