ReadItDaddy's Second Picture Book of the Week - Week Ending 6th July 2018: "Ocean Meets Sky" by Eric Fan and Terry Fan (Lincoln Books)

Our second Picture Book of the Week this week is a fantastic new book from two extremely talented brothers who wowed us with "The Midnight Gardener"...
Eric and Terry Fan are back with the utterly sublime and surreal "Ocean Meets Sky" which follows a theme that so many of our Book of the Week winners do.

In the story of Finn, a young boy who lives by the sea (and the sea lives by him) the tale starts with a shared memory of Finn's Grandfather.

An amazing old man, Grandfather was always full of stories, and encouraged Finn's imagination and creativity.

Now every time he looks out his window Finn is constantly reminded of the stories his grandfather told him about the place where the ocean meets the sky. Where whales and jellyfish soar and birds and castles float.

Finn's grandfather was always full of stories and creative ideas. Now all that remains are memories.

Finn's grandfather has passed away but Finn knows the perfect way to honor his memory. So he begins to build his own ship, determined to sail out to find this magical place himself!

And when he arrives, maybe, just maybe, he'll find something he didn't know he was looking for.

We've often described certain books as being like a soothing balm to apply to hurt, pain or grief and if you love your grandparents or elderly relatives as much as we do, and know how important they are to you and your family then books like this really do work in that way, triggering memories you have of your own grandparents or family members who still live long in your memory and imagination long after they've passed.

A surreal landscape of stories and illustions as Finn sails on

As we embark on the journey of discovery with Finn, the Fan brothers weave a gloriously surreal storyscape through amazing prose and gorgeous illustrations that really draw you into the young boys imagination and dreamworld.

It's a gentle story full of love and hope, with some rather lovely little nods to "The Midnight Gardener" if you look very carefully too. The Tan Brothers really are hugely talented!

C's best bit: Finn's storyworld full of books and mysterious creatures

Daddy's favourite bit: A rather lovely celebration of our elders and all the things they do for us, ways they inspire us and their amazing stories that live with us long after they've gone. Beautiful book this.

"Ocean Meets Sky" by Eric and Terry Fan is out now, published by Simon and Schuster (kindly supplied for review).