The Birthday Fish [Hardcover]

Dan Yaccarino (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 3 and up

Cynthia loved ponies. All she could think about was ponies. Every birthday Cynthia wished for a pony and every birthday she got something else.

An adorable new picture book about an unlikely friendship

Cynthia has always wanted a pony of her very own and is sure her parents will give her one for her birthday. But to her dismay, they give her a goldfish instead. Determined to get rid of it, she puts the fish in her doll stroller and sets off toward the lake. But during the walk, Cynthia discovers that this is a little fish with a big personality- could it be even better than having a pony?

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 3-Cynthia thinks about nothing but ponies. Every year for her birthday and for Christmas, she asks for one and every year she receives something else. But this year, she is quite sure things will be different. She is surprised and disappointed when she opens the gift from her parents and discovers a goldfish. When she tries to pour it down the drain, the fish pleads with her to spare its life and promises to grant a wish if she sets it free in a lake. As they walk to the lake, Cynthia slowly realizes that the fish is pretty special and the perfect pet after all. Yaccarino's highly stylized signature illustrations, rendered in gouache on watercolor paper, are a perfect complement to the amiable story. Children will sigh with satisfaction upon reading the final lines of this droll, likable book.-Wendy Woodfill, Hennepin County Library, Minnetonka, MN
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

PreS-K. Cynthia, who had been expecting a pony, so disdains her birthday goldfish that she "start[s] to pour it down the drain." When the fish proclaims itself "magical" and suggests that she release it into a lake in exchange for two ponies, Cynthia agrees--but finds herself caring for her talking fish too much to let it go. Crisply rendered, streamlined shapes and jelly-bean colors will instantly draw youngsters, particularly those familiar with Yaccarino's animated TV character Oswald the Octopus, while grown-ups will enjoy the retro setting, in which leisure suits and mixed plaids are in fashion, sideburns are long, and the neighborhood is filled with funky space-age architecture. A stronger depiction of the fish's true feelings about captivity would have made for a more conclusive ending, but children will have no trouble understanding the message about withholding judgment and finding friendship in unexpected places. Jennifer Mattson
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 3 and up
  
• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR); First Edition edition (May 12, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0805074937
• ISBN-13: 978-0805074932
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 9.2 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #461,442 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Dan has written and illustrated over three dozen children's books and has had the pleasure of working with some of the most prestigious names in children's literature, including Margaret Wise Brown, Jack Prelutsky, Kevin Henkes and Naomi Shabib Nye. Dan has also had the honor of being invited to the White House to share his books and to participate in the annual Easter festivities.

Dan's also created and produced Nickelodeon's animated series, Oswald, as well as the upcoming Willa's Wild Life.

Currently, Dan is writing and illustrating more books and is developing more television as well as feature film projects.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars cute, June 10, 2005

By 

Melissa Sack (georgia) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Birthday Fish (Hardcover)

Cynthia is a little girl who is a pony lover. All she really wants for her birthday is a pony. She gets a goldfish from her parents instead. She is a little upset. Cynthia talksto the fish about her feeling. He tells her that he's a magic fish and all she had to do it take him to the lake and set him free. When she does he said her wish will come true. She puts him in the stroller and sets off for the lake. She wished for a pony. While on the way to the lake she gets to know the fish better and start to really like him. She decides to keep the fish for her pet!


What did you like or not like about the book?

This book is by the creator of the Nick Jr show Oswald. The pictures are done in the same style as the tv show. Fans of the show will also enjoy this book


Would you recommend the book? Why or Why not?

Yes.It shows that even if you don't always get what you wish for things can turn out just fine!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A thrill story for my baby, July 1, 2007

By 

Nada Alaali - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Birthday Fish (Hardcover)

I bought this book for my son (3 years). He was thrilled by the sequence of the story.

The colors are wonderful, the pictures are large and the book was succesful in attracting the attention of my son right till the end.

If you don't want your kid to ask you to read a story over and over in the same day, then don't buy this book;)