This is a bittersweet book combining simple yet deeply meaningful verse with the harsh reality of what our world has become.
Here, the flamingos land on a lake they migrate to, only to find an unimaginable amount of plastic. It starts off as a playful dance putting on the different things they find in the heap, but turns into a rather contrasting, harsh ending. The illustrator presents real objects like syringes, plastic nets, utensils, lamp shades and all disposed objects to bring a unique and realistic touch to the book. These illustrations are a standout feature that bring a rather bright tone to the book. This book for young children encourages them to care for their environment by showing all the wrong that can happen if they litter. The author conveys a deep, impactful message to the reader in the form of simple, bright and entertaining verse.
This book is written in the form of a poem where sentences rhyme with names of the different characters: the flamingos. The simple vocabulary is used in such a way that the book is given a fun and easy-to-understand touch. This book is, in a way, thought provoking for anyone who reads it, pushing the reader to understand and visualize what happens to all the creatures that actually face this. Another admirable feature of this book is how the author shows rapid urbanization through a picture book with simple, yet deep words.
The illustrations in the book are inspired from dense urbanized places with inadequate space wildlife. Beyond images and verses of catchy rhyme, there is the dark background representing the disastrous effects of dumping overwhelming amounts of junk and litter into water bodies, of which the animals and birds have to face the consequences. They depict the magnificent contrast between the striking beauty of nature and the horrific sight of massive junk we humans produce. This not only highlights human carelessness but provides a message connecting with and encouraging the reader to do something about all the trash being dumped in the ocean, and all the lives being lost due to ignorance. The illustrations are used as innovative means of showcasing pollution through art.
In conclusion, the book Go, Go Flamingo is a beautifully created and meaningful picture book that combines rhythmic sentences and creative illustrations to portray the harsh realities of pollution through the example of how these flamingos suffer, encouraging a world where wildlife is respected and cleanliness is the norm.