Saturday, December 7, 2013

Something Fishy by Barry Louis Polisar

Hi there!
Here’s hoping your week is going well and you’ve had time to indulge in a few good books.  Why?  Well, because this is Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers and we love nothing more than to connect you with your next possible favorite read….THAT’S WHY!  ^_^

Today’s title is a balancing act in written and pictorial form.  It falls into the Storybook category as well as Children’s Poetry, but it wouldn’t have a problem calling Nature or Wildlife it’s home either.  It’s not quite the Edutainment fit that I usually think of when I turn that coined term but…I suppose it’s the best “multi-cultural” home in the end.  Ready to READ ALL ABOUT it?  Grab your fishing gear, notepad and paper, it’s time to meet today’s book of choice…


By
Illustrations by
David Clark
9780938663539
Rainbow Morning Music Picture Books,
Distributed by IPG

Where to begin or where to begin!  Let’s see…the illustrations are WONDERFUL, the rhyming is SPOT ON, all while delivering information pertinent about each type of fish encountered.  From the Sweetlips Fish, whom I’d never kiss either, to the Jellyfish, whose stinging mass I’d avoid if I were you, the Pot-Bellied Seahorse, whose job no human man envies, to the Killer Whales, whose image is reminiscent of Ahab and yet its rhyme is so true, there’s something to “hook” you with every turn of the page.


Though I’m not one to play favorites, but if push came to shove…HERE’S my “TOP” list…

-          Best Illustration:  The Smallest Fish – It’s the poem whose picture graces the cover.  There’s just something about the attitude in the smallest fish’s eyes that makes me smile.

-          Best Message:  Baited – Too right on the “in order to survive you have to let things go”.  A message I sorely needed a reminder of at the time I was righting this post.

-          Best Rhyme:  Jellyfish – I’m sorry but anyone who can insert “gelatinous muck” in their poem and STILL make it rhyme, scores points with me.

-          Most Educational:  Amoeba – Though they all have their facts straight and share something with readers, this one in my opinion shares the most in a way kids can understand it best….precise, clear, to the point and yet with matching imagery to make it make sense.


So, if you’re looking to pick up a little knowledge of the underwater critter variety or simply a fun and smile inducing read to fill a few minutes of your day, bait your hook and aim to catch this creative collection.  You’ll walk away entertained AND educated….definitely a satisfying combo.  Recommended read for little ones and beyond; the only limitation here is your own imagination…and we all know how to keep that healthy now don’t we?  ^_^

Review copy courtesy of IPG and author Barry Louis Polisar.  (THANKS!)  To discover more about this title or pick up a copy to call your own, seek it out on IPG’s site or keep an eye out for it on a bookstore shelf near you.

Until next time…happy reading!

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