Wave

Lee, Suzy. Wave. San Francisco: Chronicle Books, 2008.

Wave presents a stunning visual narrative in charcoal and acrylics; the illustrations, which are primarily gray-scale, with the exception of the sea-blue waves, create a beautiful contrast that focuses on the majesty of the ocean. The story follows a young girl, whose relationship with the waves is tentative at first, but she eventually embraces the water and gifts presented by the beach. 

The most exquisite part of this picture book, aside from the art, is that the lack of text allows the reader to create his or her own narration. When my daughter was younger, 2-3 years old, I would narrate the illustrations for her; however, I was still able to ask her questions about how the girl or the waves were behaving, and she could give me accurate answers based solely on the art. Now that she’s 4, almost 5, she narrates the story herself. I love that she is able to develop her own creativity and story-telling skills with Lee's captivating illustrations to facilitate. This is a fantastic book to teach visual literacy, creative writing, and art appreciation. 

This is a great addition for your child’s library, as it allows for parents and children to bond over the narrative. Suzy Lee's art and your imagination make for an aesthetic trip to the beach.