Just One Wave: A Picture Book

PreS-K–Jonker has written a charming sequel to Just One Flake; once again, the book uses tongue-in-cheek humor, is seasonally set, and continues to tell of Liam’s family (mother, Liam, little sister), this time as they head to the ocean. Liam’s current elusive goal is to attempt to catch one wave. However, the body of water is placid and not a wave is seen. Liam is persistent: at first, he is patient, then he scares a flock of birds, and finally he jumps into the body of water, thereby providing his baby sister with her first experience of a wave. The full-color spreads feature heavy line drawings painted with watercolor in child-friendly, vibrant splotches. There is limited text, but the story is mostly conveyed wordlessly through the artwork and with interjections from Liam. That makes it an ideal book for sharing aloud or to hand to beginning readers anxious to read a book—on their own.