Title: The Wave
Author: Tyler Charlton
Illustrator: Tyler Charlton
Target Ages: 5 and up
Genre: Fiction Picture Book
Summary: A young boy describes his experience with a wave of sadness that he must learn to navigate to get back to shore.
First Lines:
“The last time it happened I was building a fort.
Sometimes…
I lose my joy and I don’t know why…
…and the wave takes me away.”
Memorable Moment:
“And even though the wave still has me…I can get to my feet.”
Evaluation:
I pulled this book for a symbolism activity, but I felt it was worthy of a post on its own. In college, I took a course called Bibliotherapy. It made me realize the power books can have to help someone deal and heal. If I were teaching that course, I would use The Wave as an example book for educators to support their students and counselors to help their patients.
I like this book because it illustrates and discusses depression in a concrete way that children can understand. The wave symbolism aptly captures how someone depressed feels–alone, joyless, overpowered. The book extends beyond that though.
The protagonist shares what he does to help him reach the shore (i.e. get through the depression and back to himself). Even when the wave has him, he can get to his feet and keep moving. He can protect himself from further hurt–emotional, mental, and physical. He can look for (and move toward) the shore. Just as a person caught in a wave will fight to protect himself and to gain his footing again, so should a person caught in a wave of sadness. The narrative shows these positive principles in the text and illustrations.
The story provides hope. First, as mentioned previously, depressed people can do things to help them survive and eventually get back to themselves. Second, the story reminds readers that a wave eventually ends and makes it to the shore. Similarly, the pain of depression will end for most. Finally, the shore is hopeful because there are loved ones there waiting to support the protagonist. In the same way, the reader has people wanting to help them. The extended wave metaphor gives readers hope that the sad feeling can subside or end.
For those experiencing depression, the wave captures what they are going through. For those who do not experience depression, the wave illustrates what some of the peers and loved ones struggle with.
The book is geared for children. However, picture books like this one can be used with all ages–middle schoolers, high schoolers, adults–to help them identify their feelings or to build empathy for others.
Activities and Extension Ideas for Lesson Plans:
Bibliotherapy: Read the book with someone experiencing depression. Use it as a starting point to discuss how he/she feels and how to cope with the feelings and symptoms.
Character Education: Use this story to discuss how to show empathy for others.
Comparison: Compare on a graphic organizer how a wave acts to how the character is feeling.
Figurative Language: Use this book as a springboard to teach or to discuss symbolism and/or extended metaphors. The wave is a powerful symbol for depression and its impact on a person.
Project Board: Brainstorm ways to support someone struggling with depression. Then, use a project board to educate others how to help people with depression.
Poetry: Older readers can study Atwood’s poem “Up” which describes in more depth what depression feels like. Use the poem to further the discussion of depression or compare it to the descriptive details in the book.
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