Float

by Larry Daley

"Float is not only a delightful reading experience but also a valuable educational tool. Young readers are sure to giggle, explore, and learn something new about sea life before their next visit to the aquarium.

Author Larry Daley crafts an imaginative tale filled with humor and heart, perfectly capturing the excitement, frustrations, and life lessons of childhood.

This book uses vibrant storytelling and playful details to invite kids to pause, look closely, and discover adventure in unexpected places. It's a journey that sparks curiosity and promotes discovery, making it an exciting read for young minds.

Editorial Note: Recommended reading ages 3-10 years old, Float captivates a wide range of young readers, ensuring that it remains a favorite for years to come. Float will be published on February 3, 2026." - Midwest Book Review

Publisher Description:

Dive into Float with Rosie, an impulsive first grader, who bolts into action to retrieve her stolen lunch from an ornery seagull! Rosie Imagined a perfect day at the aquarium, but it quickly turns into an emotional pursuit through every exhibit - and more than one fish tank!

Larry Daley creates an immersive story about anticipation, frustration, and the power of pausing when things get tough.

ISBN: 978-1-954376-02-1

Hardcover, 42 pages, dust jacket with spot varnish, backmatter with fun facts about aquatic animal diets

42 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication February 3, 2026

About the author

Larry Daley is an author/illustrator and freelance creative director in children's media development. As an alumnus of Warner Bros. and DC Comics Entertainment, Larry supervised major comic book brands such as Batman and Superman in film, television, video games, toys, comics, licensed promotions, and children's publishing. His illustrative and written work is known for its quirky humor, playful characters, and exaggerated perspectives. Right now, his focus is on creating funny stories that blend chaos with kindness. Larry lives in New Hampshire with his wife and three lovely daughters.

Reviews

[Shawna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this as an ARC from the publisher and read with my 7 year old. As a fan of the aquarium, this was a hit for him! The story of Rosie was fun and engaging, with a great message about managing frustrations. The illustrations were bright, colorful, and detailed. Each page offers so much to look at with new details to discover with each reading. Easily a favorite for our bookshelf!

[Rachel Rausch · Rating 5 out of 5]

This super fun and visually rich picture book follows redheaded 1st grader Rosie, who is psyched to be at the aquarium and see the new baby sea turtle-until a seagull steals her lunchbox, resulting in a chase that takes her throughout the aquarium (including into the various tanks). Totally focused on getting her lunchbox back, Rosie doesn't notice the trail of devastation she is leaving behind until it has reached epic proportions! The aquarium manager then teaches her the valuable lesson of just "floating"-taking a pause when things get tough instead of immediately reacting.

I recommend taking some time to really pore over the illustrations! There is a lot to see on each page, including the escapades of Bubbles the octopus, who takes advantage of the chaos to try and escape, and 20 sea turtles that are hidden through the book. They are tiny, so grab your magnifying glass (and don't ignore the endpapers). Patient kids will be rewarded with finding all of the little Easter eggs, and less patient kids can just enjoy Rosie's adventure and be reminded that sometimes you just need to stop and take a breath.

[Brieanna Wilkoff · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a delightful, fun, sweet picture book. The illustrations are amazing, and Rosie is an engaging main character who is easy to root for. I love the story and also appreciate the animal facts at the end. With all the wonderful details in the art, this is a book kids (and adults!) will enjoy again and again.

[Mollie · Rating 5 out of 5]

FLOAT definitely floated to the surface as one of my favorite picture book reads of the summer. After a visit to the beach this summer resulted in my daughter's dinner being snatched from her hand by a tenacious seagull, I have renewed appreciation for Rosie's plight.

With Larry Daley's bright, bold illustrations and a captivating storyline, this will be a great read aloud for multiple age groups. I am already dreaming up a myriad of ways to use this as for various storytimes: Seek -and- find, community-building, counting, SEL, prediction, problem-solving, map making, sequencing, ... I can't wait to introduce my patrons to FLOAT.

~Mollie Mulligan
Youth Services, Portsmouth (NH) Public Library

I received an ARC digital copy from the publisher, and am eagerly awaiting my hard copy to arrive.

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Float is a lovely picture book that captures the ups and downs of one young girl's day with heart and humor. Rosie is eager to visit the baby sea turtles at the aquarium, but she finds her day derailed when a mischievous seagull steals her lunchbox. As Rosie navigates her big feelings—from excitement to frustration to calm—young readers will recognize themselves in her journey. The illustrations are stunning, bringing both the chaos and the quiet moments to life. Float would be a perfect addition to classrooms, libraries, and family bookshelves. I received this book as an ARC from the publisher and I am so glad I did!

[Mr. George The Librarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid debut picture book. I appreciated the color, mindfulness (particularly the relatable frustration and emotional processes), and whimsical adventure in this book. The misadventures of the story made me ponder "oh no, what else could go wrong..." and the memories of personal calamity days rushed into my mind. Fun for both emerging readers and adults alike. Creative hidden details of the book make it a fun re-readable story. The Animal Facts at the end are enlightening and appreciated. Dive right into this book.

[Mike Cavallaro · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an arc of Larry Daley's FLOAT, which grabs us on the first page and carries us along with Rosie as what should have been a "perfect" day trip to the aquarium goes steadily sideways As our pint-sized protagonist's troubles mount, Rosie must reach for a new perspective to salvage her day. Daley's dynamically detailed illustrations bring this tale of everything going so wrong, it's right, to vibrant life. It's a valuable message for the intended audience and a worthwhile reminder for adults who might be reading this to their favorite young ones.

[Judd · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read “Float” by Larry Daley with a group of kids and they were into it from the very first page. Rosie’s aquarium trip takes a turn when a seagull snatches her lunch, and the chase had the kids laughing, gasping, and pointing at everything happening. The illustrations are vivid and fun to pore over, with an octopus slipping through the scenes and turtles hidden in the art. What the kids took away, beyond all the laughs, was that sometimes you just need to pause and take a breath when things don’t go your way. As soon as we finished, they asked to hear it again.

[Brittany King · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a cute book! My kid loved the art and the story.