Grand Isle (Hardcover) (ISBN-13: 9781617759765)

In this wordless story, an ordinary day at the beach transforms into an unforgettable adventure.

"Many children have wondered what it might be like to be minuscule, and this wordless adventure is accessible even to a quite young beachgoer . . . An imaginative journey."
--Kirkus Reviews

"This book has outstanding creatures like colorful birds, fascinating insects and berries with faces. If you like vibrant pictures and interesting adventures, then this is the book for you!"
--New Mexico Kids!, recommended by Ava D., age 9

"A knockout. Samworth's wordless tale twists and turns like the best of suspense films. An everyday beach trip takes a turn when a pair of adventuring kids lead the way into an inverted realm, where plants and bugs lord over them. This book is a feat of illustration, a carnival of color, a mash-up of dreams and reality. I slammed my fist with how good the end was."
--Lulu Miller, author of Why Fish Don't Exist

"Grand Isle creates a breathtaking world of fantasy using the everyday world around us. It's an adventure of the imagination."
--Johnny Marciano, coauthor of Klawde: Evil Alien Warlord Cat

"This is a story that's discovered rather than told. I wish I could ride in such an extraordinary vessel. It transported me to a magical, colorful world of possible impossibilities."
--Nikki McClure, author/illustrator of Mama, Is It Summer Yet?

When two sisters wander the shore on their family beach outing in search of seashells, smooth pebbles, and other sandy treasures, they discover a gigantic seed pod large enough to hold them afloat. Unable to resist, they climb aboard, and before they know it are swept across the ocean to a mysterious island populated by marvelous vegetation and outsized insects. As they explore, their vessel is carried back out to sea, and they are stranded on the grand isle. Curiosity has led them far from home and only an act of daring and resourcefulness will bring them back.

This wordless adventure leads the audience through a richly imagined land packed with spectacular flowers and foliage well suited to Willy Wonka's botanical garden. Samworth combines the natural with the surreal in harmonious colors to create a landscape that promises new discoveries on each visit.

About the Author

Kate Samworth is an artist and illustrator inspired by natural science and art history. Her art responds to the constant changes in nature and draws upon her experiences farming in Turkey and Spain and hiking in Brazil. Her books include the Kirkus Prize-winning Aviary Wonders Inc., Liza Jane and the Dragon (by Laura Lippman), and Why Fish Don't Exist (by Lulu Miller). Her work is held in multiple public and private collections across the US and abroad and her illustrations have been featured in World Watch and Orion magazines.