Shipwreck: A Children’s picture book about bravery, adventure, and friendship.
Henry went for a sail in his hamster-sized sailboat. The beautiful day he left on suddenly becomes a storm that turns into a typhoon. His overturned boat is sinking, and he is sinking, too, wondering if this is the end…
“Shipwreck” is Alexis Besio’s first children’s book, written and illustrated when she was eight years old. It features a hamster who went for a sail, fought for his life through a typhoon, and narrowly escaped from becoming the meal of a villainous hawk, all with the help of a newly found friend.
ISBN: 979-8-89074-015-1, June 2023 first edition, 24 pages, 8.5×11 inches, full-color, hardcover.
All proceeds from the sale of “Shipwreck” are used to support the mission of Fluid Palette.
- A delightful adventure story filled with courage, wisdom, and friendship.
- Fresh and funny animal characters in a clever plot.
- Impressive creation by a child author and artist, easily relatable to young readers.
- 100% of the proceeds go to support the charitable cause of fostering children’s creativity & self-expression through art & reading.
READ + DO GOOD
The Making of “Shipwreck” told by Alexis
I have pestered my parents for a hamster ever since I can remember, and for my eighth birthday, they finally gave in! This was when Humphrey came into my life. He was perfect. He was the smartest and nicest hamster in the world. I cherished and played with him every day.
One morning, while on my way to see him, I noticed the door to his cage was wide open. His cage was empty. Humphrey had escaped!
My parents, grandmother, and I searched our house, looking behind dressers, under beds, and beneath sofas. I even shook out my dad’s shoes in his closet. We covered every nook and cranny of the house, but there was no sign of Humphrey. Humphrey had disappeared. We were all anxious and heartbroken.
It was then that my dad heard a weak squeak from down below, resembling that of a hamster. He rushed towards the sound and found Humphrey curled up, peacefully sleeping inside a rolled-up rug in the basement. My dad joked that what he heard must have been Humphrey’s snoring.
Fascinated by what happened, I began to think about the journey that Humphrey went on. He had roamed all the way through the hallways, living room, kitchen, down a steep staircase, and finally, down into the foreboding basement, a place that even I did not dare to enter at night. What an adventure he had experienced!
I was curious how he felt while exploring. Was he brave, eyes full of wonder? Was he scared, wanting to go home? Was he hungry? Did he miss me?
In the end, I concluded that Humphrey had to be pretty brave to do what he did. After all, from his perspective, it would have been like heading into a brand-new world. Thinking those questions motivated me to create “Shipwreck”…in which Humphrey became Henry.
As a child, I never thought that I could create and illustrate an entire story myself, but I kept working on it every weekend for six months and completed the project. Through the process, I learned that one should not give in when faced with difficulties. The feelings of accomplishment afterwards are completely worth the hard work. I hope that my story can touch many children, encouraging them to imagine, exercise their creativity, and never stop using it.
