Flotsam: questions to ask and activities to try
A boy finds an old camera on the beach full of amazing photos. Flotsam is a wordless, Caldecott Medal-winning picture book.
What age is it for? Flotsam is best for ages 5–9. Good for: A wordless mystery from the bottom of the sea.
Flotsam (David Wiesner)
- Age
- 5-9
- Best for
- A wordless mystery from the bottom of the sea
Tell the story together from the pictures. Spend time on each strange photo.
What it helps with
- Wordless storytelling
- Curiosity and science
- The ocean
- Imagination
Comprehension and discussion questions
Pick two or three, not all of them. “I don’t know” is a fine answer, and you can always come back to it another day.
- “What did the boy find?”
- “What was on the film?”
- “Which picture was strangest?”
- “Who took the photos before?”
- “What did he do with the camera?”
- “What would your photo show?”
5-minute activities to try together
Beach finds
Collect and study flotsam on a beach.
Mystery photo
Draw a photo of the secret world under the sea.
Free printables: Flotsam worksheet and activity pack
This book’s one-page worksheet with the questions and activities above, plus our activity pack: printable scenario cards, three 5-minute activities and a “What could I try?” page for practising everyday skills together. Enter your email and download them straight away.
Free. We’ll only email you if you tick the box.
If your child liked this, try
Tuesday (David Wiesner)
- Best for
- Flying frogs on a very strange night
- Age
- 4-9
Journey (Aaron Becker)
- Best for
- A wordless journey drawn with a red crayon
- Age
- 4-9
The Big Book of the Blue (Yuval Zommer)
- Best for
- Answers to fishy questions about sea creatures
- Age
- 4-8
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By the Growing Wise team · Last reviewed: 10 October 2026
Growing Wise offers educational ideas for parents and carers. It is not a substitute for professional medical, developmental or mental-health advice. As an Amazon Associate, Growing Wise earns from qualifying purchases.