The Flamingo: A Graphic Novel Chapter Book

by Guojing

A little girl arrives, excited for a beachy vacation with her Lao Lao. The girl and her grandmother search for shells, chase crabs, and play in the sea, but when the girl finds an exquisite flamingo feather in her grandmother’s living room, her vacation turns into something fantastical.

This nearly wordless graphic novel begins in nostalgic sepia toned illustrations and explodes into riotous color as Lao Lao tells her granddaughter the story of a little girl who finds herself as the caretaker of a baby flamingo.

The Flamingo is a tale of imagination, reunions, and connection that readers are sure to reach for again and again.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Middle Grade, Childrens, Fantasy, Animals, Picture Books, Comics

144 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 20, 2022

About the author

Guojing (Jing Guo) is an illustrator and concept artist. Previously she worked in the game and animation industry. She is now a professional illustrator. Her wordless picture book, ‘The Only Child’, a New York Times Best Illustrated Children’s Book of 2015, and a Publishers Weekly Book of 2015, is published by Schwartz and Wade (Random House, Dec, 2015). The story is based on her own experiences as a child. Guojing is also planning her next picture book. She also likes to paint in oils in her spare time. She loves to share her ideas and feelings through her art work.

Offical website: www.guojingart.com

(from http://www.creativeauthors.co.uk/illu...)

Reviews

[Dave Schaafsma · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Flamingo by Guojing is a beautiful, mostly wordless picture book reminiscent of the vibe of Studio Ghibli movies, which is to say lovely, sentimental, rendered in watercolor, colored pencils and photoshop. It’s also a chapter book graphic novel, probably directed to older children.

This book is about a girl who gets told a story by her grandmother about a girl who finds an egg, and how that story sets her imagination going. It’s about friendship, grandmother-child relationships and beauty conveying deep emotion. Mostly muted color, in grayscale, with some light pink, except for the brighter pink flamingo, and then there are some flamingo pink images in the grandmother’s life. Guojing also wrote "The Only Child" that I liked even more.

[La Coccinelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not sure why the subtitle of this one is "a graphic novel chapter book". It's more like a really long, (mostly) wordless picture book with two parts. There are no real "chapters" to speak of. In fact, there are only a few sentences of text, so the book could be suitable for pre-reading kids as well.

Actually, readers of all ages will probably find something to delight them in this story about a young girl who goes to visit her grandmother by herself. When she finds a pink feather in her grandmother's house, the old woman tells her a story about a little girl who finds a mysterious egg on the beach.

The art is charming. Done in two different colour schemes (a muted, pinkish palette for the real world and a brighter, full-colour palette for the fantasy scenes), the artwork is a showcase of whimsy, imagination, and very cute characters.

I previously read Stormy by the same author/illustrator, and was eager to read more of her books. I wasn't disappointed with this one.

[Rod Brown · Rating 2 out of 5]

A little girl visits her grandmother and hears a story about another girl who finds a flamingo egg. When she returns home, she not only carries the story in her heart, it also sparks her imagination.

Sort of sweet with nice art, but there's not really much to this mostly wordless tale.

(Another project! I'm trying to read all the picture books and graphic novels on the kids section of NPR's Books We Love 2022.)

[Erin Entrada Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely incredible!

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolutely gorgeous book filled with dreams, longings, discoveries, and shared experiences, all woven together in love.

[Elizabeth Mellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Netgalley and Random House Children’s for the ARC of this!

This was such a pretty middle grade graphic novel, both in illustration and in story. I loved the use of color and the almost wordless content because the images just said so much on their own (I think there could’ve been no dialogue and it might’ve even been better, the few lines included didn’t seem super necessary) The relationship between grandparent and grandchild was adorable.

[Beth Reynolds Winters · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another amazingly illustrated, heart warming story relayed through few words and great illustrations.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

11/20/22 The illustrations have so much emotion and movement, especially the ones with the baby bird. These pictures really were worth 1000 words. 3.5

[Jesse · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautifully illustrated story of the connection between grandmother and granddaughter…and a flamingo! 🦩

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This graphic novel was so sweet. The story of a grandmother and grandaughter traveling, visiting and childhood memories. Oh, and a pet flamingo.The colors of the pictures were soft, calm tones.

[Erica Pehrson · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Flamingo was FOR ME. I am the grandma with everything flamingo. But also the little girl filled with wonder.
The Flamingo had very few words, but some of the most beautiful art I've seen in a graphic novel (in definitely not flamingo biased hehe).
I laughed, I cried, I was touched.

I read this at my library and I'm going to have to go home and buy a copy and put it on my flamingo shelf because honestly, just
10/10 good content.

[Haylee · Rating 4 out of 5]

i want a flamingo

[Peacegal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Magical, dreamlike, and sweet nearly-wordless graphic novel--this one's a hidden gem.

[Eliza · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was boring, like 10 words in the book total. Very pretty pictures though.

[Cristina Bermúdez · Rating 2 out of 5]

Este libro me demostró que a veces no se necesitan palabras para transmitir y generar emociones.

[Kristen Harvey · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the nearly wordless graphic novel, The Flamingo, a little girl and her grandmother are spending time together until the little girl finds a flamingo feather and her grandmother unravels a story of fantasy from her own childhood that traverses the readers imagination. I absolutely adored the love shown between family and found family, the imagination displayed between generations of characters.

As for the artwork, the illustrations are stunning, mostly black and white with colors revolving around important characters and plot devices to bring your eye to them as the reader.

I loved the use of locations and how the little girl concluded the story in her own way and brought light back to her grandmother who was so far away.

With beautiful illustrations, Guojing brings to life a story of love and joy, bringing together generations of imagination and tender moments of family.

[Tiffany D. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m biased, I love flamingos!

I’m sitting in the library beginning to read Nightcrawling, while my kids are on the Childrens computers. I see this book and pick it up, and it’s such a pretty graphic novel. So heartwarming.

This is my absolute DREAM, I want a pet flamingo!! I’d be just as heartbroken when it left me though 😩💔

[Peaches & Sunshine · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best graphic novel I’ve ever read and ever will read, no contest. So much is conveyed in so few words (a handful of sentences really). It’s packed with emotion and deep, meaningful themes. The illustrations are breathtakingly beautiful. I’m so happy I read this.

[Rebecca McPhedran · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Maine Student Book Award nominee for 2023|2024

What a beautifully illustrated book about a young girl and her connection with her grandmother. With very few words, so many emotions are on display. I really enjoyed this stunningly beautiful book.

[Lindsay Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

A colorful, charming story of a young girl’s visit with her grandmother. During the visit her grandmother tells her about her time with The Flamingo. Heartwarming and incredibly illustrated, this story says so much about family, love, and nostalgia while only using enough words to keep the story moving.

[Tricia Friedman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gorgeous and moving-a wonderful reading experience

[Monica Edinger · Rating 5 out of 5]

mesmerizing

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm crying, this was so cute

[Nina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful artwork and the illustrations really tell a touching story. So many emotions are felt as you look at each of the scenes throughout the book. 😁

[Relyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

absolutely gorgeous art

[Jones & the books · Rating 5 out of 5]

STUNNING! 🤩

[Suhasa · Rating 5 out of 5]

An almost wordless graphic novel that will leave you breathless!

[Gwen Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the most beautiful graphic novels I've read with my daughter. It's a fast read but the illustrations are stunning and beautiful and make you take your time processing the story.

[Clay · Rating 5 out of 5]

This beauty is a 144-page picture book, quietly and tenderly illustrated. A gift to grandmothers and granddaughters, with an aspirational second half to encourage young authors and artists. Recommended.

[Rachel Holtzclaw · Rating 4 out of 5]

very sweet and compelling, especially since there were only a handful of pages that contained words.