This review is made possible via an ARC through NetGalley.

Flooded is beautifully illustrated and a paints a very clear message for it's audience regarding inequity as well as climate change. The juxtaposition of the plight of the smaller animals and the larger animals shrugging the situation off is reminiscent of a lot of current conversations.

While I do think this book would do quite well with younger audiences (and think teachers or parents can use it to ask 'How do they feel?' for teaching empathy) and guardians who want to raise politically conscious children would value it, I also think it's a good book for upper audiences. Some middle schoolers and up might have a negative view of picture books, but the simplicity and clarity of the pages can help to open a lot of doors to conversations in families, classrooms, and friend groups.

The problem was very inspirational and my children liked this book but thought they would love it if it was more funny and not so serious! As a parent I think it gave a good message!

This was a good book. I wish the fonts err a little different though. Maybe bolder. That’s my only real critique of this one

What a brilliant idea for a story and a wonderfully illustrated book.

Flooded shows a menagerie of animals waking up to see that their community has flood water making travel and usual activities difficult and nearly impossible for the smaller ones.

At first they adjust by wearing wellies and splashing in puddles until the water rises beyond ankle deep. Eventually, it is only the giraffes that can keep their heads above water.

I loved the simplicity of the story; the brevity of the words and slogans used. The drawings and diversity of the animal kingdom will keep younger minds guessing and pointing out different characters on each reading.

Of course there is a more profound parable being played out in this clever book. The slowness to respond and the solution being within reach if everyone works together.

But as in this story if we leave it too late, the “clean up” will take longer and the consequences may be with us for far longer than necessary.

A terrific debut; a book to treasure and hold close to your heart.

I've started reusing NetGalley (got a lot to read and review as I left with so many to review) and this was the first new book I asked for as I really liked the art style of the cover.

Throughout the book we follow a town full of animals as water slowly builds up around them and the town gets flooded by inches.

A wonderful allegory for the creeping change of the climate disaster that is happening now around all of us, especially how some are more affected than others and those that are more privileged are cushioned from the worse aspects of it until the very end.

This book was very hopeful in that it believed that everyone would notice it before it was too late and group together to do something that would solve the problem before it was too late for all.

A beautifully cool art style throughout was helped with some great use of humour in the illustrations.

Perfect for the slightly older child to help explain community responsibility and the power of working together to s common goal.

Sometimes you open a picture book and start to read and immediately you know it you like it, but at the same time you can’t quite work out why it is so appealing. For me this book is that. A fun story book to be read with a child? Yes! But: Did it make me think? Again yes. Is the story about ignoring life’s small problems as they slowly creep up on us to become big ones? Is the story about humans ignoring climate change? Is it about the need to work together to solve problems? Maybe all of these things and more. Have a read, a think and talk about it with a child and see what comes of that. Thank you to Quart Publishing Group - Frances Lincoln Children’s Books and NetGalley for the ARC. The views expressed are all mine, freely given.

I adored this little book!! The use of lines and colours is so beautiful, and each animal so full of character. I love the allegorical capacity of the story. I personally read it as a call to immediate collective climate action, especially given the floods ravaging countries all around the globe this year, but of course the story can be interpreted in so many more way. I love the rich details and nuances condensed into such a short narrative. There’s toxic positivity, collective inertia, the business-as-usual ostrich mentality, turning a deaf ear to someone who has identified the problem and tried to offer a solution from the very beginning, and privileged individuals (represented by giraffes) downplaying the gravity of the situation. It’s nice how ending focuses on solidarity rather than blame - I think it’s sends a good message to children. Lovely art and storytelling. Definitely want to read more by this author.

Amazing! Cute, powerful, meaningful and so much fun to read! That was my best picture book in a long time!

Flooded has some beautiful illustrations and really touches on a serious topic in a manner that small kids can truly understand. We used this book today to open up a family discussion about some pretty serious circumstances that are going on in our world.

I knocked off a star because sometimes I found it hard to find the dialogue and to keep the story flowing smoothly with all the other smaller talking points that some of the animals were making on each page.

'Flooded' is a delightful children's picture book written and illustrated by Mariajo Ilustrajo. As the story begins, the animals awaken to discover that their city is flooded. Mostly they are unfazed or amused by the problems this causes, but as the waters rise they start to panic - all apart from one small creature who has known what needed to be done from the start but nobody has been listening.

This story contains some positive and memorable messages for young children about teamwork, collaboration, listening to everyone and how to deal with problems. Children and adults alike will enjoy Ilustrajo's charming illustrations - all the animals are drawn in black and white apart from the small creature whose yellow tail appears on every page - and adults will especially appreciate the humour and social commentary Ilustrajo includes, such as the giraffes who remark to each other "What is there to complain about? It's just a bit of water" while smaller creatures are struggling, or the kangaroos in the art gallery who observe that "Wet are is the new thing". The art gallery pages also allow for some other excellent visual gags.

This is a wonderful book which, and I'm sure I will be buying lots of copies as children's birthday and Christmas presents over the coming years! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Flooded by Mariajo Ilustrajo is a beautifully illustrated picture book about animals and how they work to solve the problem of their city being flooded.
The story is illustrated primarily in black and white with the exception of one small creature's tale which is a symbol of hope - a bright flash of light in an otherwise worrying situation.
The book has simple but poignant words which can be easily understood by younger children.

This one was such a fun read. I loved the oddity of the story and the subtle way in which the message of working together was integrated.