This example of a picturebook dealing with the theme of the migrant crisis is less hopeful than the others. Indeed, the picturebook can be read as a memorial for the lives lost in the passage across the Mediterranean. The story opens with the stark body of a man plunging into the depths of the dark sea, before reversing in time to show the reader what circumstances led the man to his death. Violence in an unnamed country leads a community to escape for their lives as their town burns to the ground. Crammed aboard a ship, they seek safe passage across the Mediterranean. This stunning, difficult, painful work is an exemplar of the wordless form. It demonstrates the powerful meaning-making potentiality of this type of picturebook as readers are challenged to consider whether the passengers will survive the crossing, and, if the passengers reach the shore, what sanctuary they will find there. Turning the pages of the visual narrative will encourage readers to speak the unspeakable reality of the migrant crisis. In this way, The Mediterranean [Mediterraneo] is a powerful tool in groups keen to seriously discuss one of the most challenging issues facing the shores of Europe today.
