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Reviewed by Jamie Michele for Readers' Favorite
The Wild Waves by Tuula Pere tells the story of Otto, a young boy who is terrified of the family’s motorboat, the loud noise, and the speed of the waves. During a trip to an island, Otto is overcome with fear while his family enjoys the adventure. Even though he receives reassurances from his parents, Otto remains scared, going so far as to avoid talking about the trip afterward. However, when Grandpa visits, Otto finds comfort in taking things at his own pace when he's taught to use a thumb signal system to control the speed of a new carousel. Encouraged by this experience, Otto agrees to go on a boat trip with Grandpa. His confidence grows as he can control the speed. Gradually, he overcomes his fear of fast motorboats, enjoying the journey as "assistant captain" of the boat.
The Wild Waves by Tuula Pere is a beautifully illustrated children's book that, with gentle intention, takes on the issue of fear. I thought that Otto’s fear of his family’s motorboat was addressed with wonderful compassion and great care, as was his grandfather's empathetic manner of teaching Otto to overcome it through patience and control. In addition to Otto's success, there is real beauty in the depiction of generational wisdom being passed on. The thumb signal system is a completely new concept to me and quite a clever tool for managing anxiety! The watercolor-style illustrations by Catty Flores are absolutely stunning, with full-spread scenes in glorious jewel tones that bring the entire story to life. Overall, this is a perfect reminder of the value of understanding, the importance of family, and the power of taking things at one's own pace.
